Vaisesika Sūtra 9.1.03

असतः क्रियागुणव्यपदेशाभावादर्थान्तरम् ॥३॥

asataḥ kriyā-guṇa-vyapadeśa-abhāvāt arthāntaram ॥3॥

[असतः (asataḥ) - of the non-existent; क्रिया (kriyā) - action; गुण (guṇa) - quality; व्यपदेश (vyapadeśa) - designation; अभावात् (abhāvāt) - due to absence; अर्थान्तरम् (arthāntaram) - a different entity;]

Due to absence of designation of action and quality in the non-existent, it is perceived as a different entity.