The Doctrine of the Jainas, Described after the Old Sources c8.27

c8.27

Also the units of matter differ in number from 0 up to ∞. The lower limit is the smallest unit of matter, the atom. It is true that, acc. to Kundakunda, the atom has 1 unit (Davvas. 26), but acc. to Umāsvāti it has none. It is one (T. 5, 11 and Siddh. ref. to 5, 11, 14), and thus it coincides with 1 u. It follows that also the word *poggal'atthikāya-paesa* is being applied in speaking of the atom, and its combinations have the word *paesa* added (see below).² There is still another difference with regard of the density of these *paesa*: 1 u. space may contain up to ∞ atoms (Viy. 613b). That is to say: 2 units of matter coincide with 1 or 2 u. of space (and as many units of motion and rest), 3 with 1, 2 or 3, and finally ∞ with 1, 2, 3, . . . . x, ∞ or ∞. For an explanation Siddh. gives a number of similes with ref. to 5, 14.