History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c94.26

v7.c94.26

²²²² अजामेकां लोहितशुक्लकृष्णां बह्वीं प्रजाः सृजमानां सरूपा । अजो ह्येको जुषमाणोऽनुशेते जहात्येनां भुक्तभोगामजोऽन्यः ॥ श्वेताश्व० उप 4 5 This verse metaphorically speaks of Prakṛti, Puruṣa and Guṇas acc. to the Sāṅkhya objector. अजा and अज ordinarily mean 'she-goat' and 'he-goat'. The words also mean 'unborn'. Therefore, *ajā* stands for Prakṛti and *aja* for Puruṣa, both of which are eternal acc to the Sāṅkhya system. Lohitā (red) stands for the guṇa *rajas*, śuklā (white) for *sattvaguṇa* (which is *prakāśaka*) and kṛṣṇā (dark) for *tamas* From Prakṛti are evolved numerous objects The latter half refers to a soul that is enveloped in ignorance and therefore lives in bondage, but one who has realised the distinction between guṇas and Puruṣa abandons *prakṛti* i e is liberated The relations of the numerous puruṣas (poetically represented as he-goats) to the one Prakṛti (represented as a she-goat) are mentioned in this verse These three colours really stand for three elements viz tejas, waters and food (i e. earth). Vide Chān. Up VI. 3 1 'यद्ग्ने रोहितं रूपं तेजसस्तद्रूपं यच्छुक्लं तदपां यत्कृष्णं तदन्नस्य '