Samkhya thoughts in the Mahabharata
by Shini M.V. | 2017 | 51,373 words
This page relates ‘Vyasa Shuka Deva Samvada’ of the study of Samkhya thought and philosophy as reflected in the Shanti-Parva of the Mahabharata. Samkhya represents one of the six orthodox schools of Indian Philosophy and primarily deals with metaphysical knowledge and explains the Universe without the need to introduce God. The Mahabharata is an ancient Sanskrit epic which includes many Sankhya theories while expounding twenty-five principles.
Vyāsa Śuka Deva Saṃvāda
In the 321st chapter of the Śāntiparva the ślokas from 4th to 92 describe this Saṃvāda. In this Vyāsa is advising vairagya and dharma to his son Śuka deva.
Vyāsa taught his son Śuka the Vedas. He also asked his son to master his senses and to practices virtue. He wanted Śuka to observe truth and sincerity, to be free from anger, malice, deceit, to have the remnants of food after feeding gods and guests. Vyāsa told Śuka that those who have no faith will be longing for worldly things. Such men will never attain liberation. The people who live in the present and never bothered about future do not understand that they are only here for a short period.[1] The Brahman hood is acquired after great sacrifice and penance. So one must always be in the mood of penance.[2] One’s mind is always like a horse with no reins. So first, it should be controlled. Vyāsa has contempt for that life which is not lived on the basis of purity. Again and again he points out that one should so train the soul as to control the senses and keep away from evil deeds.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
ādyakālikayā buddhyā dūre śva iti nirbhayāḥ |
sarvabhakṣyā na paśyanti karmabhūmimacetasaḥ || Mahābhārata XII, 321-14.
[2]:
brāhmaṇyaṃ bahubhiravāpyate tapobhi stallabdhvā na ratipareṇa helitavyam | svādhyāye tapasi dame ca nityayuktaḥ
kṣemārthī kuśalaparaḥ sadā yatasva || ibid., 24.