The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus c4.s1.t2.68

c4.s1.t2.68

fore not indivisible. It is subject to disintegration. In a Bhúta or its isomeric modification, the Paramánu, the smallest homogeneous component particle, is unmixed, and therefore corresponds to the atom of modern chemistry. In a mixed substance (मिलितद्रव्य, संहतभूतार्थ), whether it be an "isomeric" or a heterogenic compound, the qualities are due to the mixture, and therefore its Paramánu (usually called Arambhaka Paramánu), the smallest homogeneous particle possessing its characteristic qualities, must result from the mixture of the Paramánus (in smaller or larger numbers as the case may be) of the component substances. In the Sánkhya view, then, the Paramánu of a mixed substance (Arambhaka Paramánu) corresponds to what we now call molecule. (अपकर्षपर्य्यन्तं द्रव्यं परमाणुरिति—व्यासभाष्य। लोष्ट्रस्य हि प्रविभज्यमानस्य यस्मिन्नवयवे ऽल्पत्वतारतम्यं व्यवतिष्ठते सः अपकर्षपर्य्यन्तपरमाणुः—वाचस्पति, तत्त्ववैशारदी—Sutra 52, Pada III. नाणुनित्यता न निर्भागत्त्वं । पृथिवीपरमाणुः जलपरमाणुरित्यादिव्यवहारस्तु पृथिव्यादीनां अपकर्षकाष्ठाभिप्रायान्नैव ।—विज्ञानभिक्षु, प्रवचनभाष्य, Sutra 88, Chap. V.) That the Paramánus may form binary molecules (द्वयुक) in forming substances, is acknowledged by the Sánkhyas, as will appear from Gaudapáda: तथा अन्योन्याश्रयाश्च द्वयुकवद्गुणाः । (गौड़पाद, on Káriká 12). Even the Vaiseshikas, with their prejudice against "poly-Bhautic" or "heterogenic" combination, acknowledge that in "poly-Bhautic" compounds the different Bhúta substances unite by their Paramánus (or atoms), though they rigidly insist that in such cases only one atom should be regarded as the "radicle" (उपादान or द्रव्यारम्भक कारण) and the others as co-efficient causes (निमित्तकारण—उपष्टम्भक, *e.g.* प्रशस्तपाद—एवं समुत्पन्नेषु चतुर्षु महाभूतेषु महेश्वरस्या- भिध्यानमात्रात् तैजसेभ्योऽणुभ्यः पार्थिवपरमाणुसहितेभ्यो महदण्डमुत्पद्यते (प्रशस्तपादभाष्य—where S'rídhara notes पार्थिवा अवयवा उपष्टम्भकाः and Udayana तैजसानां परमाणूनां पार्थिवाणुसाहित्येन खण्डस्य हिरण्मयत्वं विवक्षितं).