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Samkhya thoughts in the Mahabharata

by Shini M.V. | 2017 | 51,373 words

This page relates ‘Mahat (synonym of Buddhi)� 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.

Go directly to: Footnotes.

Buddhi is the first evolute of ūṛt and the first principle which is Vyakta manifestation. It is the synonym of Mahat which is principal because it produces the fruit in the shape of knowledge. Buddhi the great principle, is determination i.e., determining principle of will, virtue, wisdom, dispassion and power, constitute its form when abounding is the Sattva attribute and the reverse of these when abounding in the Tamas principle.[1] The term Buddhi stands for true or divine knowledge. Intelligent does determinative virtue, wisdom, non-attachment, the possession of powers constitute its ٳٱ첹 form the reverse of these are of its form.[2] When there is this disturbance of the equilibrium in matter and when there is this evolution called the intellect, the intellect must have an object for its function it is knowledge and knowledge must be the knowledge of something.[3]

The ṃkⲹ says that�

adhyavasāyo buddhirdharmo ñԲ� śⲹm |
sātvikametad rūpa� tāmasamasmād viparyastam ||
[4]

Buddhi has eight manifestations which are broadly of two types; ٳٱ첹 which is goodness and 峾 which is darkness. The ٳٱ첹 forms are dharma (virtue), ñԲ (knowledge), 岵ⲹ (dispassion) and śⲹ (power) are the ٳٱ첹 type and adhrma (vice), añԲ (ignorance), a岵ⲹ (passion) and anśⲹ (weakness) are the Tāmasic type. Buddhi in itself is unconscious. It is made intelligent by the reflection of the consciousness of ʳܰṣa.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Tatvakaumudi, Vācaspatimiśra, P -71.

[2]:

The ṃkⲹ system of īsvarakṛṣṇa, John davis, P-56.

[3]:

�104.

[4]:

ṃkⲹ 23.

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