Sūtra 2.26

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Sūtra 2.26:

विवेकख्यातिर् अविप्लवा हानोपायः ॥ २.२६ ॥

vivekakhyātir aviplavā hānopāyaḥ || 2.26 ||

viveka—of discrimination, khyātiḥ—knowledge. aviplavā—undisturbed, hāna—of the removal, upāyaḥ—the means.

26. The means of the removal is discriminative knowledge undisturbed.—77.

The Sankhya-pravachana commentary of Vyasa

[English translation of the 7th century commentary by Vyāsa called the Sāṅkhya-pravacana, Vyāsabhāṣya or Yogabhāṣya]

[Sanskrit text for commentary available]

Pain is removed on the removal of the cause of pain. In the removal of pain consists the establishment of the Puruṣa in its own nature. What them is the means of attaining the state of this removal of pain? ‘Discriminative knowledge undisturbed is the means of the removal.’

Discriminative knowledge is the recognition of the distinct natures of the Puruṣa and the Essence of matter (sattva). This, however, remains shaky as long as false knowledge has not been removed. When false knowledge has its seed burnt up and thus becomes incapable of fruition, then the dirt of disturbing energy (rajas) being removed, mental essence is in the state of the highest purity and possesses the consciousness of the highest power; and in that state flows on the stream of the notion of discrimination, free from impurity. It is this discriminative knowledge undisturbed, that is the means of the removal. By this it is clear that the means of removal, the path of Mokṣa (absolute freedom), is the burning of the seed of false knowledge, so that it may not sprout again.—77.

The Gloss of Vachaspati Mishra

[English translation of the 9th century Tattvavaiśāradī by Vācaspatimiśra]

The author introduces the aphorism, in order to describe the means of removal, the fourth branch of the science:—‘What then, &c.’ “Discriminative knowledge, undisturbed is the means of removal.” Discriminative knowledge comes into existence by verbal and inferential cognition also. The knowledge so obtained does not remove the actual or potential outgoing energies of the mind. In the case of such discriminative knowledge they always return to action. It is with the object of excluding the discriminative knowledge thus acquired, that the word ‘Undisturbed’ is used. Undisturbed means ‘free from false knowledge.’ Disturbance is false knowledge. This is the meaning. Discriminative knowledge should be obtained by the teaching which consists of verbal knowledge. It should then be established in the mind by reasoning. It should be carried to its highest limit of illumination by devoted attention for a long time without interruption and with reverence. Then does discriminative knowledge become direct. False knowledge is removed together with its residua. It becomes undisturbed. This is the means of removal. The rest of the Commentary is easy.—26.