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Samkhya thoughts in the Mahabharata

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

This page relates ‘Hamsa-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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Forty one verses are contained in the Ჹṃs īٲ. It is the ninth and the last īٲ which occurs in the Śāntiparva and it is so called because Brahma, in the guise of a Ჹṃs i.e. Swan to give the teaching about right discrimination. The swan has the unique power to separate milk from a mixture of milk and water. It is giving a message that the world is a mixture of good and bad, virtues and vices, but be like a swan i.e. make a clear distinction between good and bad, and adopt only virtues, giving up the vices. According to Ჹṃs ī, a practical form of such discrimination is return to good and evil.

The Ჹṃs ī teaches the necessity of developing the qualities of truthfulness, self-control, endurance and forgiveness in order to get a firm grasp of the nature of the ultimate Reality. These qualities when developed will break all bonds and barriers and will place the aspirant above all temptations. He must avoid all bitter and severe words and cruel actions, and control the urges of the five organs; speech, hand, feet, anus and the generative organ.

“As for myself I never answer when another speaks ill of me. If attacked I always forgive the assault. The righteous hold that forgiveness, truth, sincerity and compassion are the foremost of all virtues.�[1]

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

ākruśyamāno na vadāmi ki� cit kṣamāmyaha� tāḍyamānaśca nityam |
śreṣṭha� hyetad yatkṣamāmāhurāryā� satya� tathaivārjavamānṛśaṃsyam || Ѳٲ XII, 299 -12.

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