prādhānyam kim idam nāma na śaktiḥ asamanvayāt / dravya kriyā guṇa ātma ādi na atas eva avakalpyate // 
What is it that is called ‘principal character’?—It cannot be a potency; because this does not subsist (in other individuals).—For the same reason it cannot be said to consist in the nature of the substance, quality or action, etc 