Samkhya thoughts in the Mahabharata
by Shini M.V. | 2017 | 51,373 words
This page relates ‘Harita-gita (Summary)� 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.
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īٲ-gītā (Summary)
Non-violence is glorified in the īٲgītā. This ī associates itself with Sanyāsāśrama i.e. the fourth stage of life. This ī contains twenty verses attributed to īٲ Muni, but only three are reproduced. It contains the rules of conduct to be observed by Sannyāsins. They should not look at the faults of others nor speak of them; they should not injure any being or entertain hatred for anyone. They should quietly endure all hardships, mental or physical, and remain unaffected by praise, censure, misuse or insult; they should bless their oppressors and use sweet words to them; they should never make any bitter or caustic remarks. Sannyāsins should not allow themselves to be invited to dinner, or to be honoured in any way; they should not expect sweet articles of food, or blame any food given to them cooked or uncooked; they should be satisfied with a small quantity of any kind of food, and must always appear cheerful and contented, mild and self controlled and they must maintain silence and equanimity. Sannyāsins should not live in any house or keep company with others.
Ensuring safety to all living beings, one goes out of his house as a sannyāsin and enters the world of light freed from all limitations.
“Retiring from his home, considering equally gain and loss, governing the senses and disregarding all objects of desire even when they are ready (for enjoyment), one should follow the life of Renunciation.�
“Neither with eye, nor with word, nor in thought, should one disparage another. Nor should one speak ill of any person either in or out of his hearing. One should refrain from injuring any creature, and fact observing the course of the sun. Having come in to this life, one should not treat with unfriendliness any creature.�[1]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Śāntiparva XII,278, 3-5