Verses on Sāṃkhya 26

Here [an objector] says: Egoity is threefold; we will explain it. In this regard, from which egoity are the faculties produced, or from which the subtle elements? To this it is said:

The luminous elevenfold set proceeds from the modified egoity; / from the origin of elements, the subtle elements, which are dark; from the fiery, both. //

Regarding "luminous": when lightness-sattva becomes predominant in egoity, and by that sattva passion-rajas and darkness-tamas are overpowered, then it is called luminous egoity. To that luminous [egoity], the designation "modified" was given by ancient teachers. Becoming that modified [egoity], egoity produces the eleven faculties. Therefore, these [faculties] are luminous, clear, and capable of grasping their own objects. Therefore it is said: "The luminous elevenfold set proceeds from the modified egoity." "From the origin of elements, the subtle elements": from the origin of elements, that is, from the egoity named "origin of elements" described by ancient teachers, wherein sattva and rajas have become secondary due to the abundance of darkness-tamas, the fivefold group of subtle elements beginning with sound is born. From the passionate egoity termed "fiery," in which sattva and tamas are overpowered, whose nature is activity, both—the elevenfold set consisting of faculties whose nature is illumination, and the set of subtle elements whose nature is delusion—came to be; this is the construction. The power of action exists only in the fiery, passionate egoity. Sattva, being inactive, cannot produce alone; and tamas, being inert and inactive on account of stupefaction, is incapable of producing creation without rajas. Hence, both sattva and tamas, when assisted by rajas in the realm of creation, generate the two groups: that consisting of faculties and that consisting of subtle elements. This is the intended meaning. //