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Samkhya thoughts in the Mahabharata

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

This page relates ‘Sannyasa (The mode of life having liberation for its end)� 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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Sannyāsa (The mode of life having liberation for its end)

Alienating themselves from attachment to the sacred fire, wealth, wife and children and robes seats beds and such other objects of enjoyment and snapping the fetters of affection they walk about regarding with an equal eye on a dump of earth or rock and gold. They never think of acquiring or enjoying the three fold objects of life. They regard impartially foes and friends and neutrals or strangers. They never injure, in thought word or deed, immobile objects or creatures that are viviparous or oviparous. They have no homes. They walk over hills and mountains, upon shores of rivers or oceans, under shades of trees and among temples of gods. They may go to towns or villages for living. In one town however, they should not live for more than five nights while in the same village they should not live for more than one night. Entering a town or a village, for maintaining their life they go to the houses of liberal 󳾲ṇa only. They should never ask for any alms but accept what is put in to the bowls they carry. They should free themselves from lust, anger, pride, cupidity, delusion, miserliness, deceit, slander, vanity, and injury to creatures. There are some verses on this subject–that person who, observing the vow of silence roams without giving any creature cause of fear, is never filled with any fear for himself by any creature.[1] That learned person who performs the Agnihotra with the help of the fire that is in his own body, who pours libations in to his own body acquires endless blissful regions on account of that fire having been fed with such libations acquired by a life of mendicancy. That twice born person who observes in the aforesaid way, this mode of life having liberation for its end with a pure heart and understanding attains Brahma after the manner of tranquil ray of light that is not fed by any burning fuel.[2]

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

󲹲ⲹ� sarvabhūtebhyo datvā yaścarate ܲԾ� |
na tasya sarvabhūtebhyo bhayamutpadyate kvacit || Śāntiparva 192-4.

[2]:

kṛtvāgnihotra� svaśarīrasaṃstha� śarīramagni� svamukhe juhoti |
viprastu bhokṣyaupagatairhavirbhiścitāgninā� sa vrajate hi lokam || Śāntiparva 192-5.

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