History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c94.31

v7.c94.31

In many passages of the Sāntiparva¹²²⁵ references to some of the doctrines, technical words and persons connected with the mature Sāṅkhya system occur. The references are so many that the present writer will have to select only a few passages by way of sample In chap 203 there is a dialogue between a clever pupil and his guru It begins by stating (in verse 8) that Vāsudeva is all this (Vāsudevah sarvam-idam), then it proceeds ‘Just as from one lamp thousands of lamps can proceed, so prakṛti creates endless things, but does not become reduced (in size) thereby; buddhi springs from the activity of avyakta (i.e. prakṛti) and ahaṅkāra is produced (from buddhi) and from ahaṅkāra is evolved *ākāśa* from which *vāyu* arises and then *tejas*, water and the earth arise each from its predecessor; these eight are the mūlaprakṛtis²²²⁶ and the whole world is centred in them (verses 24–26). Then the chap. mentions five organs of knowledge (ear, skin, eye, tongue, sense of smell) and five senses of activity (hands &c) and then there are the five objects of sense (viz. śabda, sparśa &c) and the mind is all-pervading and the 16th (verses 27–31). Then the chapter speaks of puruṣa (the soul) that resides in the city with nine²²²⁷ gates and is undecaying and immortal, which shines in all beings just as a lamp, whether big or small, does. In chapter 204 the same dialogue is pursued and the first verse says all *bhūtas* spring from *avyakta* and are merged (die) in *avyakta*, it refers to *kṣetra* (the body) and *kṣetrajña* (in verse 14) and winds up by saying that, just as seeds burnt by fire do not grow, the soul is not again connected with *kleśas*²²²⁸ when they are burnt by the fire of (correct) knowledge In chap. 205, verses 22–23 speak of the characteristics of the three *guṇas*; chap. 206 says that when a person brings under control anger, avarice,²²²⁹ fear, pride and becomes pure he merges into the highest self that is Viṣṇu in *avyakta* form and chap 207 deals with the measures for reaching the highest goal and puts forward brahmacarya (sexual purity) as the first measure. In these chapters, though some doctrines peculiar to the standard Sāṅkhya of the Kārikā appear, they are all brought in line with the Vedānta of one supreme Being, which is negatived in the official Sāṅkhya.