Samkhya thoughts in the Mahabharata

by Shini M.V. | 2017 | 51,373 words

This page relates ‘Satkaryavada’ 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.

The merging of principles to its creator leaves one out and that is Nature. Soul merges into its creating cause. Destruction is the cause which Nature has to face. This is because there arises a condition when there is no attributes because of dissociation from the principles.[1] The great elements help to form the Mahat or Buddhi by using the matter of entire universe. Then mind is devoured by the Lord of all creatures that is consciousness which is considered as the soul of everything. The great soul devours the consciousness, which is said to be connected to the past, present and future.[2]

The destruction of all things encompassed is to be analyzed. Water becomes one with earth, then a vast expanse of water can be seen. Then fire and water mixes in to one and then fire and wind, wind and ether. This ether then becomes one with the mind. Mind becomes one with the manifest and manifest with unmanifest. The unmanifest in turn combines with puruṣa and puruṣa with the supreme. The thick cloud of darkness wraps the universe hiding everything from sight. The supreme Brahman originates from the primal Darkness, which is primary and imperishable. When this happens time gulps down this knowledge. A sruti supports this by saying that energy or might swallow time and vice versa which is brought in to the clutches of knowledge.[3]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

guṇāguṇeṣu līyante tadaikāprakṛtirbhavet |
kṣetrajño'pi yadā tāta tatkṣetre sampralīyate || Mahābhārata XII, 307 -16.

[2]:

manograsati bhūtātmā so'haṃkāraḥ prajāpatiḥ |
ahaṃkāraṃ mahānātmā bhūtabhavyabhaviṣyavit || Mahābhārata XII, 312–12.

[3]:

kālo girati vijñānaṃ kālaṃ balamiti śrutiḥ |
balaṃ kālo grasati tu taṃ vidvān kurute vaśe || Mahābhārata XII, 233 -16.

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