Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच सम्यक्त्वयायं नृपते वर्णितः शिष्टसंमतः योगमार्गो यथान्यायं शिष्यायेह हितैषिणा
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said O king, you have duly described to me, in the proper way, the path of Yoga which is approved by the wise, like a loving preceptor to his pupil.
सांख्ये त्विदानीं कार्त्स्न्येन विधिं प्रब्रूहि पृच्छते त्रिषु लोकेषु यज्ज्ञानं सर्वं तद्विदितं हि ते
M. N. Dutt: I ask now about the principles of the Sankhya philosophy. Do you describe those principles to me in full. You know whatever knowledge exists in the three worlds.
भीष्म उवाच शृणु मे त्वमिदं शुद्धं सांख्यानां विदितात्मनाम् विहितं यतिभिर्बुद्धैः कपिलादिभिरीश्वरैः
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Hear now what the subtile principles are of the followers of the Sankhya doctrine all of whom have a clear knowledge of the soul. Those principles have been laid down by all the great and powerful Yatis having Kapila for their first.
यस्मिन्न विभ्रमाः केचिद्दृश्यन्ते मनुजर्षभ गुणाश्च यस्मिन्बहवो दोषहानिश्च केवला
M. N. Dutt: In that doctrine, O king no errors are seen. Its merits are manifold. In fact, there is no fault in it.
ज्ञानेन परिसंख्याय सदोषान्विषयान्नृप मानुषान्दुर्जयान्कृत्स्नान्पैशाचान्विषयांस्तथा
AI Translation: Having determined by knowledge the objects which are faulty, O king, the human objects which are difficult to conquer in their entirety, and the objects of the demons,
राक्षसान्विषयाञ्ज्ञात्वा यक्षाणां विषयांस्तथा विषयानौरगाञ्ज्ञात्वा गान्धर्वविषयांस्तथा
AI Translation: Having known the realms of the demons, and likewise the realms of the yakshas, Having known the realms of the serpents, and likewise the realms of the gandharvas,
पितॄणां विषयाञ्ज्ञात्वा तिर्यक्षु चरतां नृप सुपर्णविषयाञ्ज्ञात्वा मरुतां विषयांस्तथा
AI Translation: Knowing the objects of the ancestors, and of the animals, O king, knowing the objects of the Suparnas, and of the Maruts,
राजर्षिविषयाञ्ज्ञात्वा ब्रह्मर्षिविषयांस्तथा आसुरान्विषयाञ्ज्ञात्वा वैश्वदेवांस्तथैव च
AI Translation: Having known the topics of the royal sages, and the topics of the brahmin sages, Having known the topics of the demons, and the topics of the gods,
देवर्षिविषयाञ्ज्ञात्वा योगानामपि चेश्वरान् विषयांश्च प्रजेशानां ब्रह्मणो विषयांस्तथा
AI Translation: Having known the subjects of the celestial sages and the lords of yoga, And the subjects of the lords of creatures and of Brahma,
आयुषश्च परं कालं लोके विज्ञाय तत्त्वतः सुखस्य च परं तत्त्वं विज्ञाय वदतां वर
AI Translation: Having known the true nature of the supreme time of life in the world, and having known the true nature of supreme happiness, O best of speakers,
प्राप्ते काले च यद्दुःखं पततां विषयैषिणाम् तिर्यक्च पततां दुःखं पततां नरके च यत्
AI Translation: And the suffering of those who fall into the realms of animals, and the suffering of those who fall into hell.
स्वर्गस्य च गुणान्कृत्स्नान्दोषान्सर्वांश्च भारत वेदवादे च ये दोषा गुणा ये चापि वैदिकाः
AI Translation: All the qualities of heaven and all the faults, O descendant of Bharata, And the faults in the Vedic teachings and the qualities in the Vedic teachings,
ज्ञानयोगे च ये दोषा गुणा योगे च ये नृप सांख्यज्ञाने च ये दोषास्तथैव च गुणा नृप
AI Translation: And the faults and virtues of knowledge yoga, and the faults and virtues of yoga, O king, And the faults and virtues of the knowledge of Sankhya, O king,
Supplementary Passages:
12.290.13 After 13, T G1.3.6 Cs Kumbh. ed. ins.: *746 इतरेषु च ये दोषा गुणास्तेषु च भारत परिसंख्याय संख्यानं मत्वा सांख्यं गुणाधिकम्
सत्त्वं दशगुणं ज्ञात्वा रजो नवगुणं तथा तमश्चाष्टगुणं ज्ञात्वा बुद्धिं सप्तगुणां तथा
AI Translation: Having known the ten qualities of sattva, and the nine qualities of rajas, and the eight qualities of tamas, and the seven qualities of buddhi,
षड्गुणं च नभो ज्ञात्वा मनः पञ्चगुणं तथा बुद्धिं चतुर्गुणां ज्ञात्वा तमश्च त्रिगुणं महत्
AI Translation: Having known space to be of six qualities, and the mind to be of five qualities, and having known the intellect to be of four qualities, and the great one to be of three qualities,
द्विगुणं च रजो ज्ञात्वा सत्त्वमेकगुणं पुनः मार्गं विज्ञाय तत्त्वेन प्रलये प्रेक्षणं तथा
AI Translation: Having known the two qualities of Rajas and one quality of Sattva, and having known the path and the dissolution,
ज्ञानविज्ञानसंपन्नाः कारणैर्भाविताः शुभैः प्राप्नुवन्ति शुभं मोक्षं सूक्ष्मा इव नभः परम्
AI Translation: Those who are endowed with knowledge and wisdom, purified by auspicious causes, attain the auspicious liberation, like the subtle space.
रूपेण दृष्टिं संयुक्तां घ्राणं गन्धगुणेन च शब्दे सक्तं तथा श्रोत्रं जिह्वां रसगुणेषु च
AI Translation: The eye is attached to form, the nose to the quality of smell, The ear to sound, the tongue to the quality of taste,
तनुं स्पर्शे तथा सक्तां वायुं नभसि चाश्रितम् मोहं तमसि संसक्तं लोभमर्थेषु संश्रितम्
AI Translation: Attached to the body in touch, to the wind in space, Attached to delusion in darkness, to greed in wealth,
विष्णुं क्रान्ते बले शक्रं कोष्ठे सक्तं तथानलम् अप्सु देवीं तथा सक्तामपस्तेजसि चाश्रिताः
M. N. Dutt: Vishnu is attached to (the organs of) motion. Indra is attached to (the organs of) strength. The god of fire is attached to the stomach. Earth is attached to the Waters. The Waters have fire for their refuge.
तेजो वायौ तु संसक्तं वायुं नभसि चाश्रितम् नभो महति संयुक्तं महद्बुद्धौ च संश्रितम्
M. N. Dutt: Heat attaches itself to the Wind; and the Wind has Ether for its refuge; and Space has the principle of greatness for its refuge; and the principle of greatness has Understanding for its basis.
बुद्धिं तमसि संसक्तां तमो रजसि चाश्रितम् रजः सत्त्वे तथा सक्तं सत्त्वं सक्तं तथात्मनि
M. N. Dutt: The Understanding has its refuge in Darkness; Darkness has Ignorance for its refuge; Rajas is founded upon the quality of goodness and quality of Goodness is attached to the Soul.
सक्तमात्मानमीशे च देवे नारायणे तथा देवं मोक्षे च संसक्तं मोक्षं सक्तं तु न क्वचित्
M. N. Dutt: The Soul has the glorious and powerful goodness Narayana for its refuge. That glorious god has Liberation for his refuge. Liberation is independent of all refuge.
ज्ञात्वा सत्त्वयुतं देहं वृतं षोडशभिर्गुणैः स्वभावं चेतनां चैव ज्ञात्वा वै देहमाश्रिते
AI Translation: Having known the body endowed with the sattva, enveloped by the sixteen qualities, And having known the nature and consciousness, which are based on the body,
मध्यस्थमेकमात्मानं पापं यस्मिन्न विद्यते द्वितीयं कर्म विज्ञाय नृपते विषयैषिणाम्
AI Translation: One should know the self to be in the middle, where there is no sin. Knowing the second action of those who desire objects, O king,
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थांश्च सर्वानात्मनि संश्रितान् प्राणापानौ समानं च व्यानोदानौ च तत्त्वतः
AI Translation: The senses and their objects, all of them, are based in the Self. The prāṇa, apāna, samāna, vyāna, and udāna breaths, truly.
Supplementary Passages:
12.290.26 After 26ab, K6 V1 B0.6-9 Da3. a4 Dn1.n4 Ds D2.3.5.7.8 editions ins.: *747 दुर्लभत्वं च मोक्षस्य विज्ञाय श्रुतिपूर्वकम्
अवाक्चैवानिलं ज्ञात्वा प्रवहं चानिलं पुनः सप्त वातांस्तथा शेषान्सप्तधा विधिवत्पुनः
AI Translation: Having known the downward-moving wind and the upward-moving wind, and the seven winds again, and the remaining seven winds, divided into seven parts, according to the rules,
प्रजापतीनृषींश्चैव मार्गांश्च सुबहून्वरान् सप्तर्षींश्च बहूञ्ज्ञात्वा राजर्षींश्च परंतप
AI Translation: and the sages Prajapati, and many excellent paths, and knowing the seven sages and the royal sages, O scorcher of enemies,
सुरर्षीन्महतश्चान्यान्महर्षीन्सूर्यसंनिभान् ऐश्वर्याच्च्याविताञ्ज्ञात्वा कालेन महता नृप
AI Translation: The great sages, the celestial sages, and the other great sages who are like the sun, Knowing that they are illuminated by power, O king, after a long time,
महतां भूतसंघानां श्रुत्वा नाशं च पार्थिव गतिं चाप्यशुभां ज्ञात्वा नृपते पापकर्मणाम्
AI Translation: Having heard of the destruction of the great hosts of beings, O king, and having known the inauspicious destiny of those who perform evil deeds,
वैतरण्यां च यद्दुःखं पतितानां यमक्षये योनीषु च विचित्रासु संसारानशुभांस्तथा
AI Translation: The suffering of those who fall into the Vaitarani river, the destruction of Yama, And the various births in the cycle of existence, the inauspicious ones,
जठरे चाशुभे वासं शोणितोदकभाजने श्लेष्ममूत्रपुरीषे च तीव्रगन्धसमन्विते
AI Translation: In the belly, which is an abode of impurity, a vessel of blood and water, Filled with phlegm, urine, and feces, and endowed with a strong odor,
शुक्रशोणितसंघाते मज्जास्नायुपरिग्रहे सिराशतसमाकीर्णे नवद्वारे पुरेऽशुचौ
AI Translation: In the mass of semen and blood, in the embrace of marrow and sinew, In the city of impurity, with its nine doors, filled with hundreds of veins,
विज्ञायाहितमात्मानं योगांश्च विविधान्नृप तामसानां च जन्तूनां रमणीयावृतात्मनाम्
AI Translation: Knowing the good and bad of the self and the various yogas, O king, and of the beings of the tamas nature, who are covered by the senses,
सात्त्विकानां च जन्तूनां कुत्सितं भरतर्षभ गर्हितं महतामर्थे सांख्यानां विदितात्मनाम्
AI Translation: O bull of the Bharata lineage, it is condemned by the sattvika beings, and is deprecated for the sake of the great ones, by the Sankhyas who know the self.
उपप्लवांस्तथा घोराञ्शशिनस्तेजसस्तथा ताराणां पतनं दृष्ट्वा नक्षत्राणां च पर्ययम्
AI Translation: And the terrible portents, and the loss of the moon's radiance, And seeing the fall of the stars and the change of the constellations,
द्वंद्वानां विप्रयोगं च विज्ञाय कृपणं नृप अन्योन्यभक्षणं दृष्ट्वा भूतानामपि चाशुभम्
AI Translation: Having seen the separation of couples, the misery of men, O king, and the evil of the devouring of one another even by creatures,
बाल्ये मोहं च विज्ञाय क्षयं देहस्य चाशुभम् रागे मोहे च संप्राप्ते क्वचित्सत्त्वं समाश्रितम्
AI Translation: Having known the delusion of childhood and the impurity of the body's destruction, When passion and delusion have arisen, sometimes resorting to sattva,
सहस्रेषु नरः कश्चिन्मोक्षबुद्धिं समाश्रितः दुर्लभत्वं च मोक्षस्य विज्ञाय श्रुतिपूर्वकम्
AI Translation: Among a thousand men, only one may have the resolve for liberation. Having understood the difficulty of attaining liberation, as taught in the scriptures,
बहुमानमलब्धेषु लब्धे मध्यस्थतां पुनः विषयाणां च दौरात्म्यं विज्ञाय नृपते पुनः
AI Translation: Having not obtained respect, and having obtained it, again neutrality, And having understood the wickedness of objects, again, O king,
गतासूनां च कौन्तेय देहान्दृष्ट्वा तथाशुभान् वासं कुलेषु जन्तूनां दुःखं विज्ञाय भारत
AI Translation: Having seen the bodies of the dead, O son of Kunti, and the inauspiciousness, and having known the suffering of the dwelling of beings in families, O descendant of Bharata,
ब्रह्मघ्नानां गतिं ज्ञात्वा पतितानां सुदारुणाम् सुरापाने च सक्तानां ब्राह्मणानां दुरात्मनाम् गुरुदारप्रसक्तानां गतिं विज्ञाय चाशुभाम्
AI Translation: Having known the fate of those who kill Brahmins, of those who have fallen, and of those who are attached to drinking liquor, of those wicked Brahmins, and having known the inauspicious fate of those who are attached to the wives of their teachers,
जननीषु च वर्तन्ते ये न सम्यग्युधिष्ठिर सदेवकेषु लोकेषु ये न वर्तन्ति मानवाः
AI Translation: Those who do not act properly towards their mothers, O Yudhiṣṭhira, Those men who do not act towards the worlds with the gods,
तेन ज्ञानेन विज्ञाय गतिं चाशुभकर्मणाम् तिर्यग्योनिगतानां च विज्ञाय गतयः पृथक्
AI Translation: Having known by that knowledge the destiny of those of bad deeds, and having known separately the destinies of those in the animal realm,
वेदवादांस्तथा चित्रानृतूनां पर्ययांस्तथा क्षयं संवत्सराणां च मासानां प्रक्षयं तथा
AI Translation: The various statements of the Vedas, the changes of the seasons, The exhaustion of the years and the waning of the months,
पक्षक्षयं तथा दृष्ट्वा दिवसानां च संक्षयम् क्षयं वृद्धिं च चन्द्रस्य दृष्ट्वा प्रत्यक्षतस्तथा
AI Translation: Having seen the waning of the lunar days and the waning of the days, and having seen the waning and waxing of the moon directly,
वृद्धिं दृष्ट्वा समुद्राणां क्षयं तेषां तथा पुनः क्षयं धनानां च तथा पुनर्वृद्धिं तथैव च
AI Translation: Seeing the increase of the oceans and their decrease again, and the decrease of wealth and its increase again,
संयोगानां क्षयं दृष्ट्वा युगानां च विशेषतः क्षयं च दृष्ट्वा शैलानां क्षयं च सरितां तथा
AI Translation: Seeing the destruction of the conjunctions, and especially of the yugas, and seeing the destruction of the mountains and the rivers,
वर्णानां च क्षयं दृष्ट्वा क्षयान्तं च पुनः पुनः जरामृत्युं तथा जन्म दृष्ट्वा दुःखानि चैव ह
AI Translation: Seeing the destruction of the castes and again and again the end of destruction, and seeing old age, death, and birth, and suffering,
देहदोषांस्तथा ज्ञात्वा तेषां दुःखं च तत्त्वतः देहविक्लवतां चैव सम्यग्विज्ञाय भारत
AI Translation: Having known the faults of the body and their suffering in truth, and having fully understood the weakness of the body, O descendant of Bharata,
आत्मदोषांश्च विज्ञाय सर्वानात्मनि संश्रितान् स्वदेहादुत्थितान्गन्धांस्तथा विज्ञाय चाशुभान्
AI Translation: Having known all the faults of the self, which are based on the self, And having quickly known the odors arising from one's own body, which are also impure,
Supplementary Passages:
12.290.51 After 51, T G1.3.6 M1.5-7 Kumbh. ed. ins.: *748 मूत्रश्लेष्मपुरीषादीन्स्वेदजांश्च सुकुत्सितान्
युधिष्ठिर उवाच कान्स्वगात्रोद्भवान्दोषान्पश्यस्यमितविक्रम एतन्मे संशयं कृत्स्नं वक्तुमर्हसि तत्त्वतः
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said O you of immeasurable energy, what are those faults which you see in one's body? You should explain this doubt to me fully and truly.
भीष्म उवाच पञ्च दोषान्प्रभो देहे प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः मार्गज्ञाः कापिलाः सांख्याः शृणु तानरिसूदन
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Listen, O killer of enemies, the Sankhyas or followers of Kapila, who are conversant with all paths and gifted with wisdom, say that there are in all five faults, O powerful one, in the human, body.
कामक्रोधौ भयं निद्रा पञ्चमः श्वास उच्यते एते दोषाः शरीरेषु दृश्यन्ते सर्वदेहिनाम्
M. N. Dutt: They are Desire, Anger, Fear, Sleep and Breath. These faults are seen in the bodies of all embodied creatures. They who are gifted with wisdom cut the root of anger with the help of Forgiveness. Desire is cut off by renouncing all purposes.
छिन्दन्ति क्षमया क्रोधं कामं संकल्पवर्जनात् सत्त्वसंशीलनान्निद्रामप्रमादाद्भयं तथा छिन्दन्ति पञ्चमं श्वासं लघ्वाहारतया नृप
M. N. Dutt: By cultivation of the quality of Goodness (Sattva) sleep is conquered and Fear in conquered by cultivating carefulness. Breath is conquered by restriction of diet, О king.
गुणान्गुणशतैर्ज्ञात्वा दोषान्दोषशतैरपि हेतून्हेतुशतैश्चित्रैश्चित्रान्विज्ञाय तत्त्वतः
AI Translation: Having known the qualities by hundreds of qualities, and the faults by hundreds of faults, Having known the causes by hundreds of various causes, and the various ones by knowing the truth,
अपां फेनोपमं लोकं विष्णोर्मायाशतैर्वृतम् चित्तभित्तिप्रतीकाशं नलसारमनर्थकम्
AI Translation: The world is like a bubble on water, surrounded by hundreds of Vishnu's illusions. It is like a wall of the mind, like a reed, and meaningless.
तमः श्वभ्रनिभं दृष्ट्वा वर्षबुद्बुदसंनिभम् नाशप्रायं सुखाद्धीनं नाशोत्तरमभावगम् रजस्तमसि संमग्नं पङ्के द्विपमिवावशम्
AI Translation: Seeing it like a pit of darkness, like a bubble of rain, It is about to be destroyed, deprived of happiness, leading to destruction, ending in nonexistence, Submerged in passion and darkness, like an elephant in mud, helpless,
सांख्या राजन्महाप्राज्ञास्त्यक्त्वा देहं प्रजाकृतम् ज्ञानज्ञेयेन सांख्येन व्यापिना महता नृप
AI Translation: O king, the great wise ones of the Sankhya school, having abandoned the body created for the people, By the great all-pervading Sankhya knowledge of the knowable, O
राजसानशुभान्गन्धांस्तामसांश्च तथाविधान् पुण्यांश्च सात्त्विकान्गन्धान्स्पर्शजान्देहसंश्रितान् छित्त्वाशु ज्ञानशस्त्रेण तपोदण्डेन भारत
AI Translation: The Rajas-born, the unwholesome smells, and the Tamas-born smells of that kind, And the auspicious smells born of the Sattva, which are tactile and attached to the body, Having quickly cut them off with the weapon of knowledge and the staff of asceticism, O descendant of Bharata,
ततो दुःखोदकं घोरं चिन्ताशोकमहाह्रदम् व्याधिमृत्युमहाग्राहं महाभयमहोरगम्
AI Translation: Then the terrible water of suffering, the great lake of anxiety and sorrow, the great crocodile of disease and death, the great serpent of great fear,
तमःकूर्मं रजोमीनं प्रज्ञया संतरन्त्युत स्नेहपङ्कं जरादुर्गं स्पर्शद्वीपमरिंदम
AI Translation: They cross the darkness-tortoise, the passion-fish, with wisdom. The mire of affection, the fortress of old age, the island of touch, the lord of death,
कर्मागाधं सत्यतीरं स्थितव्रतमिदं नृप हिंसाशीघ्रमहावेगं नानारसमहाकरम्
AI Translation: This is the ocean of karma, with the shore of truth, the vow of the steadfast king. It is violent, swift, and of great force, the great source of various tastes.
नानाप्रीतिमहारत्नं दुःखज्वरसमीरणम् शोकतृष्णामहावर्तं तीक्ष्णव्याधिमहागजम्
AI Translation: The great jewel of various pleasures, the wind of the fever of suffering, The great whirlpool of grief and thirst, the great elephant of sharp disease,
अस्थिसंघातसंघाटं श्लेष्मफेनमरिंदम दानमुक्ताकरं भीमं शोणितह्रदविद्रुमम्
AI Translation: Covered with a mass of bones, with a mass of phlegm and foam, O destroyer of enemies, A mine of generosity, terrible, with a lake of blood and coral.
हसितोत्क्रुष्टनिर्घोषं नानाज्ञानसुदुस्तरम् रोदनाश्रुमलक्षारं सङ्गत्यागपरायणम्
AI Translation: The sound of laughter and cries, difficult to cross by various knowledges, The flow of tears of weeping, devoted to the renunciation of attachment,
पुनराजन्मलोकौघं पुत्रबान्धवपत्तनम् अहिंसासत्यमर्यादं प्राणत्यागमहोर्मिणम्
AI Translation: Again the ocean of birth, the city of sons, relatives, and friends, The boundary of non-violence and truth, the great wave of giving up life,
वेदान्तगमनद्वीपं सर्वभूतदयोदधिम् मोक्षदुष्प्रापविषयं वडवामुखसागरम्
AI Translation: The island of the attainment of the Vedanta, the ocean of compassion for all beings, The ocean of the difficult-to-reach realm of liberation, the ocean of the mouth of the Vada
तरन्ति मुनयः सिद्धा ज्ञानयोगेन भारत तीर्त्वा च दुस्तरं जन्म विशन्ति विमलं नभः
AI Translation: The sages and the Siddhas cross over by the Yoga of Knowledge, O descendant of Bharata. Having crossed the difficult birth, they enter the pure sky.
ततस्तान्सुकृतीन्सांख्यान्सूर्यो वहति रश्मिभिः पद्मतन्तुवदाविश्य प्रवहन्विषयान्नृप
M. N. Dutt: The Sun-god then bears, with his rays, those pious men who prastise the Sankhya doctrines. Like the fibres of the lotus-stalk carrying water to the flower into which they all converge, the Sun-God, drinking all things from the universe, conveys them to those good and wise men.
तत्र तान्प्रवहो वायुः प्रतिगृह्णाति भारत वीतरागान्यतीन्सिद्धान्वीर्ययुक्तांस्तपोधनान्
AI Translation: There, the wind carries them away, O descendant of Bharata. Those who are free from passion, ascetics, accomplished ones, endowed with courage and austerity,
सूक्ष्मः शीतः सुगन्धी च सुखस्पर्शश्च भारत सप्तानां मरुतां श्रेष्ठो लोकान्गच्छति यः शुभान् स तान्वहति कौन्तेय नभसः परमां गतिम्
AI Translation: Subtle, cool, fragrant, and pleasant to the touch, O descendant of Bharata, He is the best of the seven winds, who goes to the auspicious worlds. He carries them, O son of Kunti, to the highest destination of the sky.
नभो वहति लोकेश रजसः परमां गतिम् रजो वहति राजेन्द्र सत्त्वस्य परमां गतिम्
AI Translation: O Lord of the world, the wind carries the dust to its highest destination. O King, the dust carries the sattva to its highest destination.
Supplementary Passages:
12.290.73 After 73ab, T G1.3.6 Kumbh. ed. ins.: *749 तमो वहति राजेन्द्र रजसः परमां गतिम्
सत्त्वं वहति शुद्धात्मन्परं नारायणं प्रभुम् प्रभुर्वहति शुद्धात्मा परमात्मानमात्मना
M. N. Dutt: Darkness then carries them to the highest end of Goodness. Goodness then bears them,O you of pure soul, to the Supreme and powerful Narayana.
परमात्मानमासाद्य तद्भूतायतनामलाः अमृतत्वाय कल्पन्ते न निवर्तन्ति चाभिभो परमा सा गतिः पार्थ निर्द्वंद्वानां महात्मनाम्
M. N. Dutt: The powerful and pure-souled Narayana at last through himself, carries them to the Supreme Soul, those pure persons, who have become the body of Brahman, attain to immortality, and they have never afterwards to come back from that position, O King! That is the highest end, O son of Pritha, which is acquired by those great men who have got over the influence of all pairs of opposites.
Supplementary Passages:
12.290.75 After 75, K6 V1 B0.6-9 Da3. a4 Dn1.n4 Ds D2.3.5.7.8 editions ins.: *750 सत्यार्जवरतानां वै सर्वभूतदयावताम्
युधिष्ठिर उवाच स्थानमुत्तममासाद्य भगवन्तं स्थिरव्रताः आजन्ममरणं वा ते स्मरन्त्युत न वानघ
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said O pure one, have those persons of firm Vows, after they have acquired that excellent position which is fraught with power and happiness, and recollection of their lives including birth and death?
यदत्र तथ्यं तन्मे त्वं यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि त्वदृते मानवं नान्यं प्रष्टुमर्हामि कौरव
M. N. Dutt: You should tell me properly what the truth is in this respect. O you of Kuru's race, I do not think it proper to ask any one else but you,
मोक्षदोषो महानेष प्राप्य सिद्धिं गतानृषीन् यदि तत्रैव विज्ञाने वर्तन्ते यतयः परे
AI Translation: This is a great defect of liberation. Having attained perfection, the sages have gone. If the supreme ascetics abide in that very knowledge,
प्रवृत्तिलक्षणं धर्मं पश्यामि परमं नृप मग्नस्य हि परे ज्ञाने किं नु दुःखतरं भवेत्
AI Translation: I see the supreme Dharma characterized by activity, O king. For one who is immersed in supreme knowledge, what could be more painful?
भीष्म उवाच यथान्यायं त्वया तात प्रश्नः पृष्टः सुसंकटः बुद्धानामपि संमोहः प्रश्नेऽस्मिन्भरतर्षभ अत्रापि तत्त्वं परमं शृणु सम्यङ्मयेरितम्
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said “However difficult it may be to answer it, the question which you have asked, O son, is proper. Verily, the question is of such a nature that even the highly learned men become stupefied in answering it, O chief of Bharata's racc.
बुद्धिश्च परमा यत्र कापिलानां महात्मनाम् इन्द्रियाण्यपि बुध्यन्ते स्वदेहं देहिनो नृप कारणान्यात्मनस्तानि सूक्ष्मः पश्यति तैस्तु सः
M. N. Dutt: The senses of knowledge, O king, placed in the bodies of embodied creatures, are engaged in their respective functions of perception. They form the instruments of the Soul, for it through them that subtile Being perceives.
आत्मना विप्रहीणानि काष्ठकुड्यसमानि तु विनश्यन्ति न संदेहः फेना इव महार्णवे
M. N. Dutt: Disassociated from the Soul, the senses are like pieces of wood, and are, forsooth, destroyed like the forth that is seen on the bosom of the ocean.
इन्द्रियैः सह सुप्तस्य देहिनः शत्रुतापन सूक्ष्मश्चरति सर्वत्र नभसीव समीरणः
M. N. Dutt: When the embodied creature, O scorcher of enemies, goes into sleep together with his senses, the subtile Soul then roves among all objects like the wind through ether.
स पश्यति यथान्यायं स्पर्शान्स्पृशति चाभिभो बुध्यमानो यथापूर्वमखिलेनेह भारत
M. N. Dutt: The Subtile Soul, during sleep continues to see and touch all objects of touch, O king, and get other perceptions, as well as when it is awake.
इन्द्रियाणीह सर्वाणि स्वे स्वे स्थाने यथाविधि अनीशत्वात्प्रलीयन्ते सर्पा हतविषा इव
M. N. Dutt: On account of their inability to act without their director, the senses, during slumber, all become extinguished in their respective places like snakes shorn of poison.
इन्द्रियाणां तु सर्वेषां स्वस्थानेष्वेव सर्वशः आक्रम्य गतयः सूक्ष्माश्चरत्यात्मा न संशयः
M. N. Dutt: At such times, the subtile Soul, repairing into the respective places of all the senses, forsooth, performs all their functions,
सत्त्वस्य च गुणान्कृत्स्नान्रजसश्च गुणान्पुनः गुणांश्च तमसः सर्वान्गुणान्बुद्धेश्च भारत
AI Translation: And the qualities of sattva, and the qualities of rajas, And the qualities of tamas, and the qualities of Buddhi, O descendant of Bharata.
गुणांश्च मनसस्तद्वन्नभसश्च गुणांस्तथा गुणान्वायोश्च धर्मात्मंस्तेजसश्च गुणान्पुनः
AI Translation: And the qualities of the mind, and likewise the qualities of space, And the qualities of the wind, O virtuous one, and the qualities of fire,
अपां गुणांस्तथा पार्थ पार्थिवांश्च गुणानपि सर्वात्मना गुणैर्व्याप्य क्षेत्रज्ञः स युधिष्ठिर
AI Translation: O Partha, know the qualities of water and earth. The knower of the field, O Yudhishthira, pervades all with all qualities.
आत्मा च याति क्षेत्रज्ञं कर्मणी च शुभाशुभे शिष्या इव महात्मानमिन्द्रियाणि च तं विभो
AI Translation: The Self goes to the knower of the field and to the good and bad deeds. The senses are like disciples to the great Self, and to the Lord.
प्रकृतिं चाप्यतिक्रम्य गच्छत्यात्मानमव्ययम् परं नारायणात्मानं निर्द्वंद्वं प्रकृतेः परम्
M. N. Dutt: When the individual Soul, transcends Prakriti, it acquires Brahma that is changeless, that is highest, that is Narayana that is beyond all pairs of opposites, and that is above Nature.
विमुक्तः पुण्यपापेभ्यः प्रविष्टस्तमनामयम् परमात्मानमगुणं न निवर्तति भारत
M. N. Dutt: Freed from both merit and demerit, the individual Soul, entering the Supreme Soul which is shorn of all attributes, and which is the home of all auspiciousness, does not return thence, O Bharata.
शिष्टं त्वत्र मनस्तात इन्द्रियाणि च भारत आगच्छन्ति यथाकालं गुरोः संदेशकारिणः
M. N. Dutt: These remains, O son, only the mind with the senses, O Bharata. These have to return once more at the appointed time for satisfying the command of their great Master.
शक्यं चाल्पेन कालेन शान्तिं प्राप्तुं गुणार्थिना एवं युक्तेन कौन्तेय युक्तज्ञानेन मोक्षिणा
M. N. Dutt: Soon after, O son of Kunti, cast off the Yati striving after Liberation, gifted as he is with knowledge and desirous as he is of quality, succeeds in attaining to that peace of Liberation which one enjoys without the body.
सांख्या राजन्महाप्राज्ञा गच्छन्ति परमां गतिम् ज्ञानेनानेन कौन्तेय तुल्यं ज्ञानं न विद्यते
M. N. Dutt: The Sankhyas, O king, are gifted with great wisdom. They acquire the highest end by means of this kind of knowledge. There is no knowledge that is equal to this.
अत्र ते संशयो मा भूज्ज्ञानं सांख्यं परं मतम् अक्षरं ध्रुवमव्यक्तं पूर्वं ब्रह्म सनातनम्
M. N. Dutt: Do not give way to any sort of doubt. The Knowledge which is described in the system of the Sankhyas is considered all the highest. That knowledge is immutable and is eternal. It is eternal Brahma.
अनादिमध्यनिधनं निर्द्वंद्वं कर्तृ शाश्वतम् कूटस्थं चैव नित्यं च यद्वदन्ति शमात्मकाः
M. N. Dutt: It has no beginning, middle, and end. It is above all pairs of opposites. It is the cause of the creation of the universe. It stands fully. It is without decrease of any kind. It is uniform, and everlasting. Thus are its praises recited by the wise.
यतः सर्वाः प्रवर्तन्ते सर्गप्रलयविक्रियाः यच्च शंसन्ति शास्त्रेषु वदन्ति परमर्षयः
M. N. Dutt: From it originate creation and destruction and all metamorphoses. The great Rishis speak of it and praise it in the scriptures.
सर्वे विप्राश्च देवाश्च तथागमविदो जनाः ब्रह्मण्यं परमं देवमनन्तं परतोऽच्युतम्
M. N. Dutt: All learned Brahmanas and all the gods and all pious men consider it as originating from Brahma. Supreme, Divine, Infinite, Immutable, and Undeteriorating.
प्रार्थयन्तश्च तं विप्रा वदन्ति गुणबुद्धयः सम्यग्युक्तास्तथा योगाः सांख्याश्चामितदर्शनाः
M. N. Dutt: All Brahmanas, again, who are attached to objects of the senses worship and applaud it by ascribing to it attributes that belong to illusion. The same is the opinion of Yogins well observant of penances and meditation and of Sankhyas of great insight.
अमूर्तेस्तस्य कौन्तेय सांख्यं मूर्तिरिति श्रुतिः अभिज्ञानानि तस्याहुर्मतं हि भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: The Shrutis say, O son of Kunti, that the Sankhya system of philosophy is the form of that Formless One. The cognition have, O chief of Bharata's race, been said to be the knowledge of Brahma.
द्विविधानीह भूतानि पृथिव्यां पृथिवीपते जङ्गमागमसंज्ञानि जङ्गमं तु विशिष्यते
M. N. Dutt: There are two kinds of creatures on Earth, O king, viz., mobile and immobile. Of these, those that are mobile are superior.
ज्ञानं महद्यद्धि महत्सु राज;न्वेदेषु सांख्येषु तथैव योगे यच्चापि दृष्टं विविधं पुराणं; सांख्यागतं तन्निखिलं नरेन्द्र
M. N. Dutt: That high knowledge, O king, which is in persons conversant with Brahma, and that which is in the Vedas, and that which is seen in other scriptures, and that in Yoga, and that which may be seen in the various Puranas, are all, O monarch, to be found in Sankhya philosophy.
यच्चेतिहासेषु महत्सु दृष्टं; यच्चार्थशास्त्रे नृप शिष्टजुष्टे ज्ञानं च लोके यदिहास्ति किंचि;त्सांख्यागतं तच्च महन्महात्मन्
M. N. Dutt: Whatever knowledge is seen to exist in great histories, whatever knowledge is, O king, in the sciences about the acquisition of riches as approved by the wise, whatever other knowledge exists in this world,-all these,-originate, O great king, from the high knowledge that is among the Sankhyas.
शमश्च दृष्टः परमं बलं च; ज्ञानं च सूक्ष्मं च यथावदुक्तम् तपांसि सूक्ष्माणि सुखानि चैव; सांख्ये यथावद्विहितानि राजन्
M. N. Dutt: Tranquillity of soul, high power, all subtile knowledge of which the scriptures speak, penances of subtile force, and all sorts of happiness, O king, have all been duly ordained in the Sankhya system,
विपर्यये तस्य हि पार्थ देवा;न्गच्छन्ति सांख्याः सततं सुखेन तांश्चानुसंचार्य ततः कृतार्थाः; पतन्ति विप्रेषु यतेषु भूयः
M. N. Dutt: Failing to acquire, O son of Pritha, that complete knowledge which is recommended by their system, the Sankhyas attain to the dignity of gods and pass many years in happiness. Ruling over the celestials as they will, they fall, upon the expiration of the fixed period, among learned Brahmanas and Yatis.
हित्वा च देहं प्रविशन्ति मोक्षं; दिवौकसो द्यामिव पार्थ सांख्याः ततोऽधिकं तेऽभिरता महार्हे; सांख्ये द्विजाः पार्थिव शिष्टजुष्टे
M. N. Dutt: Renouncing this body, those twice-born ones that follow the Sankhya system enter into the superior state of Brahma like the gods entering into the sky by devoting themselves wholly to that worshipful system which is theirs and which is adored by all wise men.
तेषां न तिर्यग्गमनं हि दृष्टं; नावाग्गतिः पापकृतां निवासः न चाबुधानामपि ते द्विजातयो; ये ज्ञानमेतन्नृपतेऽनुरक्ताः
M. N. Dutt: Those twice-born ones who are given to the acquisition of that knowledge which is recommended in the Sankhya system, even if they fail to acquire eminence, are never seen to fall among intermediate creatures, or to sink into the state of sinful men.
सांख्यं विशालं परमं पुराणं; महार्णवं विमलमुदारकान्तम् कृत्स्नं च सांख्यं नृपते महात्मा; नारायणो धारयतेऽप्रमेयम्
M. N. Dutt: That great person who is fully conversant with the vast, high, ancient, oncean-like, and immeasurable Sankhya system who is pure and liberal and agreeable, becomes, O king, equal to Narayana.
एतन्मयोक्तं नरदेव तत्त्वं; नारायणो विश्वमिदं पुराणम् स सर्गकाले च करोति सर्गं; संहारकाले च तदत्ति भूयः
M. N. Dutt: I have now told you, O god among men, the truth about the Sankhya system. It is the embodiment of Narayana, of the universe as it exists from antiquity. When the time of Creation comes, He causes the Creation to come into being, and when the time comes for destruction. He swallows up everything. Having withdrawn everything into his own body he goes to slumber,-that inner Soul of the universe.
Supplementary Passages:
12.290.110 After 110, Dn1.n4 Ds D2.3.5.7.8 editions ins.: *751 संहृत्य सर्वं निजदेहसंस्थं कृत्वाप्सु शेते जगदन्तरात्मा