Answer

In the context of the guṇa of a dravya, abhivyakta means manifest, expressed, or clearly evident.

It refers to a quality that is not merely present in the substance, but is manifested in a recognizable form.

Explanation

In Jain philosophy:

• Dravya means substance or reality.
• Guṇa means attribute or quality that always exists in a dravya.
• Paryāya means the changing mode or condition of that dravya.

A guṇa belongs permanently to a dravya, but its expression may appear differently through different paryāyas.

So, when a guṇa is called abhivyakta, it means that the attribute has become expressed or observable through a particular mode.

For example:

• The soul has the guṇa of jñāna — knowledge.
• In ordinary worldly souls, this knowledge is present but obscured by karma.
• When obstruction reduces, knowledge becomes more abhivyakta — more manifest or clearly expressed.

The quality was not newly created; it was already part of the soul’s nature. Its manifestation became clearer.

Spiritual Understanding

In Jain Dharma, this is important because the pure qualities of the soul — such as knowledge, perception, bliss, and energy — are eternal attributes of the soul. They may be covered by karmas, but they are never destroyed.

Spiritual practice does not create these qualities from outside. It helps remove karmic coverings so that the soul’s natural qualities become abhivyakta, meaning fully manifest.

Takeaway

Abhivyakta means manifest or expressed. In relation to a guṇa of a dravya, it means that an inherent quality of a substance has become clearly expressed through a particular state or mode.