Samkhya thoughts in the Mahabharata
by Shini M.V. | 2017 | 51,373 words
This page relates ‘Twenty-six Tattvas of Samkhya philosophy’ 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.
Twenty-six Tattvas of Sāṃkhya philosophy
It comes in the 306th chapter in the Śāntiparva At many places in the Śāntiparva of Mahābhārata the twenty six principles are explained.
bahudhā''tmā prakurvīta prakṛtiṃ prasavātmikām |
tacca kṣetraṃ mahānātmā pañcaviṃśo'dhitiṣṭhati || [1]
The soul makes nature, which contains the principles of production or growth, assume various forms. Nature is called kṣetra, above the twenty four topics or principles soul is great. It presides over Nature or kṣetra
avyaktabodhanāccāpi budhyamānaṃ vadantyuta |
pañcaviṃśaṃ mahātmānaṃ na cāsāvapi budhyate ||
ṣaḍviṃśaṃ vimalaṃ buddhamaprameyaṃ sanātanam |
sa tu taṃ pañcaviṃśaṃ ca caturviṃśaṃ ca budhyate || [2]
Indeed the twenty fifth can comprehend the unmanifest, he is therefore called comprehender. He cannot however readily, comprehend the twenty sixth, which is pure which is knowledge without duality, which is immeasurable and which is eternal. The twenty sixth however can know both the individual soul and Nature, numbering the twenty fifth and the twenty fourth respectively.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Śāntiparva 306 /36.
[2]:
Śāntiparva 308-6,7.