Tattvartha Sutra: 05.37

05.37 Gunaparyāyvad Dravyam

Audio:
Sanskrit:	गुणपर्यायवद् द्रव्यम ।
Hindi:	द्रव्य गुण-पर्याय वाला है।

05.37

English:

Every substance is imbibed with its properties and changing modes.

This sutra lays another vital principle of Jainism. It states that every substance is an aggregate of various properties and of continually changing states. Obviously, a substance cannot be devoid of its properties. For instance, sweetness is the property of sugar and it cannot be separated from sugar. Thus sugar cannot be devoid of sweetness and salt cannot be devoid of saltiness. If those properties can be removed, they would cease to be sugar or salt. Similarly, changing of state is also imbibed in the matter. This implies that the same state does not remain constant. Every state continues to give place to another.