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?
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Sign up to join this communityMaharshi 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?
Maharishi Kanada talks about the relationship between cause and effect in the following Shlokas:
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
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
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