History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c94.87

v7.c94.87

Some comparatively early Sanskrit works that disclose tenets similar to the standard Sāṅkhya of the Kārikā may be briefly noticed here. The Buddhacarita of Aśvaghoṣa (in chap. XII. 17ff) mentions a dialogue between Arāḍa and Gautama (the future Buddha) in which occur *prakṛti*, five elements, *ahaṅkāra*, *buddhi*, the indriyas, objects of sense, mind, kṣetrajña as Ātman and states that Kapila with his pupil was enlightened as to these, that nescience, actions and desires are the causes of saṁsāra; that *avidyā* has five aspects (verses 33-37) which are defined, speaks of *brahmacarya*, and *mukti*. Though the tattvas are mentioned here the rest of the doctrines bear very little resemblance to the official Sāṅkhya.