Tattvartha Sutra: 05.40

05.40 Dravyāshrayā Nirgunā Gunāh

Audio:
Sanskrit:	द्रव्याश्रया निगुणा गुणा: ।
Hindi:	जो द्रव्य में सदा रहने वाले और गुणरहित हैं वे गुण है।

05.40

English:

The properties reside within a substance and are themselves without properties.

The first part of the sutra is simple, but the second part may seem intriguing. How can properties be without properties? This can be explained with the help of an illustration. Saltiness, for instance, is the property of salt, but there cannot be saltiness or any other property within the saltiness. The apparent contradiction of the sutra can be removed by stating that the properties are without attributes.