What is "adrsta"

Adrsta (, Adr̥ṣṭa) is a concept in Indian philosophy which means that which is "unobserved, not seen, invisible".

The concept of adrsta is discussed in the Vaiśeṣika Sūtra, the main text of the Vaisheshika Hindu school of philosophy, as part of its philosophical discussion on the nature of universe. After explaining the atomistic cosmology that this school theorizes as the constituents of universe, it focuses on explaining phenomena such as motion and change. These occurrences are attributed to manifestations of adrsta, or invisible forces and fields as causative reasons behind change. Vaiśeṣika scholars explain Adr̥ṣṭa as what intermediates between cause and effect but is not seen. The Vaisheshika school also uses Adrsta concept in its formulation of the Karma doctrine.