What is the relationship between cause and effect as enunciated by Maharishi Kanada?

Question

Maharshi Kanada was the founder of the Vaisheshika school of thought, one of the Shad Darshanas in Hinduism. He wrote the Vaisheshika Sutras, the most prominent text of this school.

What does he say about the relationship between cause and effect?

Answer 1

Maharishi Kanada talks about the relationship between cause and effect in the following Shlokas:

Shloka 1.2.1.

कारणभवात् कार्य्याभावः ।। १ । २ । १ ।।

कारणभवात् (Kaaranabhaavaat), from the non-existence of cause

कार्य्याभावः (Kaaryyabhaavah), non-existence of effect

Non-existence of effect (follows) from the non-existence of cause

Shloka 1.2.2.

न तु कार्य्याभावात् कारणभावः ।। १ । २ । २ ।।

न (Na), not

तु (Tu), but

कार्य्याभावात् (Kaaryyabhaavat), from non-existence of effect

कारणभावः (Kaaranabhaavah), non-existence of causes

But non-existence of cause (does) not (follow) from the non-existence of effect

Shloka 2.1.24.

कारणगुणपूर्व्वकः कार्य्यगुणो दृष्टः ।। २ । १ । २४ ।।

कारणगुणपूर्व्वकः (Kaarana-guna-poorvakah), preceded by the attributes of cause

कार्य्यगुणः (Kaaryya-gunah), attributes of the effect

दृष्टः (Drishtah), is seen or observed

The Attribute of the effect is seen to be preceded by the Attribute of the cause

e.g. The colour (attribute) of an object is perceived before any attribute of the Earth element (cause)

Reference used: The Vaisesika sutras of Kanada - Translated by Nandalal Sinha