Tattva Samasa

Presentation explains in brief the elements of nature as per Sankhya Philosophy

1. तत्त्वसमास Tattva-samāsa A Compendium of the Principles of Nature Picture by D K Chauhan

2. In this presentation, I have tried to explain Tattva Samasa in simple language as I understand it. To explain the sutras, reference has been taken from different books and online sources . Any feedback is welcomed

3. Introduction There is no knowledge like sankhya and no power like yoga [ नास्ति सांख्यसमं ज्ञानं नास्ति योगसमं बलं ] Sankhya and Yoga are two philosophy to attain communion with God( मोक्ष) . In chapter 3 verse 3 of Bhagvad Gita ,Lord Krishna says-- In this world, two faiths were declared by me. path of knowledge( ज्ञान ) for Sankhya yogis, path of actions ( कर्म) for yogis [ लोकेऽस्मिन्द्विविधा निष्ठा पुरा प्रोक्ता मयानघ । ज्ञानयोगेन सांख्यानां कर्मयोगेन योगिनाम् ।।3 ।। ] In Chapter 5, it is elaborated Only the ignorant speak of Yoga and Sankhya as being different [ सांख्ययोगौ पृथग्बाला: प्रवदन्ति न पण्डिता: । BG5.4] and it is further mentioned that Without yoga , practise of Sankhya is difficult[ सन्न्यासस्तु महाबाहो दु:खमाप्तुमयोगत: । BG5.6] {continued}

4. Introduction Discourse of Sankhya in the form of Tattva Samasa was done by Mahrishi Kapil to Aasuri . At present only 22 sutras are available and it makes the basis of Sankhya philosophy. These 22 sutras have been deliberated in detail in various scriptures at different times. As explained on previous slide, Yoga and Sankhya are paths to attain the same goal. These two paths meet at many places and yogi following any of the path gets benefitted knowing other path, therefore, one needs to understand Tattva Samasa ,in order to understand Mahrishi Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Keeping this in mind, the following slides explain in brief, the meaning of 22 sutras discoursed by Mahrishi Kapil

5. अष्टौ प्रकृतयः ॥ १॥ aṣṭau prakṛtayaḥ [1] astau : Eight prakrtayah : Natures Meaning of Sutra : [There are] eight origin of evolutes (natures) Explanation: The following are the eight prakritis : Prakriti :Nature, the equilibrium of three gunas , itself not evolved from any other origin, but the primordial source of all other evolutes Buddhi : faculty of discrimination, intelligence Ahamkara : ego, identifying principle tan- matras : five subtle elements of sound, touch, form , flavour and smell

6. षोडश विकाराः ॥ २॥ ṣoḍaśa vikārāḥ [2] soadasa : sixteen vikarah : transformation, apparition Meaning : [There are] sixteen transformations/ apparitions Explanation: The sixteen transformations or apparitions are: Indriyas : Eleven senses which consists of mind, five cognitive senses and five active senses Bhutas or tattvas : five gross elements which are space, air, fire, water and earth ( evolved in this order)

7. पुरुषः ॥ ३॥ purushah [3] purushah : the consciousness, ever pure, ever wise, ever free Meaning : Soul Explanation : sutra 1 & 2 described 24 elements( tattav ) which are without conscious and 25 th element is the consciousness ( purush ). Purush at different places has been identified as part of God.

8. त्रैगुण्य म् ॥४॥ traigunyam [4] t rai : three g unyam : qualities, attributes Meaning : [ The prakriti has ] three qualities or attributes Explanation: The prakriti ( 24 in number as explained in sutra 1 & 2) has three attributes( gunas ). Sattva , rajas, tamas . These three attributes are in equilibrium before the creation of evolutes. These attributes represent the principles of illumination , activity and stasis. Their disequilibrium in different proportions produces different evolutes which have already been mentioned in sutra 1 and 2. Anything beside purush ( 25 th element) has three attributes

9. संचरः ॥५॥ sancharah [5] sancharah : emanation, evolution Meaning : [there is continuous] emanation Explanation: There is a continuous chain of transitions from non- evolute prakriti towards the evolutes. This transition ends at the grossest evolute , the earth.

10. प्रतिसंचरः ॥६॥ prati-sancharah [6] prati-sancharah : resolution, moving backward, withdrawal Meaning : [There is continuous] withdrawal Explanation: There is also a continuous chain of reverse transition from evolutes towards dissolution into prakriti . Sancharah and prati sancharah is a pair of transition from one to another. This is also known as creation and destruction ( स्रष्टि और प्रलय )

11. अध्यात्मम् अधिभूतम् अधिदैवम् च ॥ ७॥ adhyatmam adhibhūtam adhidaivataṃ ca [ 7] adhyatmam : The Supreme Self Adhibhutam : The Supreme Substrate of Elemental Nature Adhidaivatam : The Supreme Diety Ca: and Meaning : The supreme self, the supreme substrate of Elemental Nature and the supreme Deity [ are the three types of creation] Explanation: The creation ( स्रष्टि ) has three types. Supreme self, nature and deity . The categories under direct control of the Supreme Self are: Mental: intelligence, ego and mind physical: five cognitive senses and five active senses Attributes of the objects of experience such as the intelligible, the identifiable , the thinkable , the sounds heard etc

12. पन्चाभिबुदध्यः ॥ ८ ॥ pancha abhi buddhayah [ 8 ] pancha : five abhi buddhayah : functions of intellect, activities of intelligence Meaning :[there are ] five activities of intelligence Explanation: these five activities are given as under: Abhibuddhi : i must do this Abhimana : i do this ichchha : desire , want kartavya : indulgence of the cognitive senses kriya : operations of the active senses

13. पञ्च कर्मयोनयः ॥ ९ ॥ pancha karma yonayah [ 9 ] pancha : five karma yonayah : sources of actions Meaning : [there are] five sources of actions Explanation: dhriti : resolution of mind , speech and action shraddha : inclination of faith, generosity of mind, charity, acts of prayer sukha : acts undertaken with expectation of a comforting or pleasant result a- vividhisha : tendency that blocks the desire for knowledge vividhisha : desire to know matters relating to spirituality

14. पञ्च वायवः ॥ १ ० ॥ pancha vayavah [ 1 ] pancha : five vayavah : breaths , vital energy, vital winds Meaning : [there are ] five [ types of] breathing Explanation: every person has five fields of vital energy or pranas or vayu in the body. These are: prana , apana , samana , udana , vyana

15. पञ्च कर्मात्मानः ॥ १ १ ॥ pancha karmatmanah [ 1 1 ] pancha : five karmatmanah : living beings as per actions Meaning : [there are ] five [kinds of] living beings [categorized as per their] actions (karmas) Explanation: vaikarika : with sattvic ego, naturally inclined to perform good deeds taijasa : with rajasic ego , naturally inclined to perform evil acts bhutadi : with tamsic ego, performing act of stupefaction bhutadi are further categorized in two: sanumana : performing good acts of stupefaction niranumana : performing evil acts of stupefaction

16. पञ्चपर्वाऽविदधा ॥ १ २ ॥ pancha parva avidya [1 2 ] pancha : five parva avidya : ignorance Meaning : [ There are] five[kinds of] ignorance Explanation: 12 to 15 sutras enumerate 50 modification of intelligence. This sutra states that there are five kind of ignorance. These are: avidya (ignorance): mistaking the eternal for the non- eternal and vice versa mistaking the pure with impure and vice versa mistaking pleasure for pain & vice versa mistaking the self for non-self & vice versa asmita : I –am – ness raga: attraction dvesha : aversion abhinivesha : fear of death

17. अष्टाविंशतिधाऽशक्तिः ॥ १ ३ ॥ ashtavimshatidha ashaktih [ 1 3 ] ashtavimshatidha :twenty eight ashaktih : incapacity Meaning : [there are] 28 [kind of] incapacity Explanation: the incapacity are enumerated as under incapacity of mind 1 incapacity of 5 cognitive senses 5 incapacity of 5 active senses 5 incapacity of intelligence 17 the incapacity of intelligence are various possible false views held regarding reality. these 17 incapacities are opposites of 9 contentment and 8 accomplishment stated in next two sutras

18. नवधा तुष्टिः ॥ १ ४ ॥ navdha tushtih [1 4 ] navdha : nine tushtih : contentment Meaning : [there are] nine contentment Explanation: 4 spiritual and 5 external contentment comprises of 9 contentment. Spiritual contentment: matter will give me enlightenment renunciation will give me enlightenment time will bring forth enlightenment destiny will bring enlightenment External contentment continued on next slide

19. नवधा तुष्टिः ॥ १ ४ ॥ navdha tushtih [1 4 ] navdha : nine tushtih : contentment Meaning : [there are] nine contentment Explanation: [ continued from previous slide] external contentment are The ways of earning wealth are violent, exploitative & painful Guarding wealth and sources of pleasure is painful Wealth , luxury & pleasure even well guarded are temporary No matter how many objects of senses one enjoys, there is no satisfaction and the desires blaze evermore It is not possible to enjoy oneself without hurting other beings

20. अष्टधा शक्तिः ॥ १ ५ ॥ ashtadha shaktih [ 1 5 ] ashtadha : eight shaktih : accomplishment, attainment Meaning : [there are] 8 accomplishment Explanation: 8 accomplishment includes 3 primary and 5 secondary accomplishment 3 primary accomplishment are removal of 3 kinds of sufferings(intra-personal, caused by other beings, caused by natural forces) [continued on next slide]

21. अष्टधा शक्तिः ॥ १ ५ ॥ ashtadha shaktih [ 1 5 ] ashtadha : eight shaktih : accomplishment, attainment Meaning : [there are] 8 accomplishment Explanation: [continued from previous slide] 5 secondary accomplishments are Contemplation with a logical mental process Knowledge gained from scriptures Study Gaining friends in the form of teacher, disciples, co-seekers Self-purification Secondary accomplishment are the means to primary accomplishments

22. दश मूलिकार्थाः ॥ १ ६ ॥ dasha mulika-arthah [ 1 6 ] dasha : ten Mulika-arthah : principles Meaning : [ There are] ten principle [tenets of the philosophy] Explanation: There is a conscious self ( Purush ) There is an original, unmanifest nature There is a single unmanifested cause of all material objects The conscious self exists for no other one Matter exists for serving the conscious self Conscious self is separate from prakriti Conscious self is not an agent of actions Union of matter with spiritual self occurs There are many purushas After self-realization, the body may continue by the momentum of its own laws

23. श्रनु ग्रह ः सर्गः ॥ १ ७ ॥ anugraha sargah [ 1 7 ] anugraha : compassionate sargah : creation Meaning : creation of compassionate [feelings] Explanation: fivefold compassionate creation. Five subtle elements( tan- matras ) The appearance of divine , incarnate sages is also considered as compassionate creation

24. चतुर्दशविधो भूतसर्गः ॥ १८ ॥ chaturdashavidho bhuta - sargah [ 18 ] chaturdash vidho : fourteen kind bhuta : living beings sargah : creation Meaning : Creation of fourteen kinds of living beings

25. त्रिविधो बन्धः ॥ १९ ॥ trividho bandhah [19] trividho : three kinds of Bandhah : bondage Meaning : [there are ] three kinds of bondage Explanation: Prakratika Bondage: identifying the self with the eight prakritis Vaikritika bondage: renunciates becoming attracted to objects of pleasure Dakshina bondage: Common worldly people’s involvement with ordinary desires and needs of life An ascetic’s dependence on the offerings of laymen

26. त्रिविधो मोक्षः ॥ २ ० ॥ trividho mokshah [ 20] trividho : three kinds of mokshah : liberation Meaning : [ there are] three kinds of liberation Explanation: Liberation arising from the full expansion of knowledge Liberation arising from the elimination of attachment Liberation arising above good and evil. In this kind, the self has abandoned all prakritic identification.

27. त्रिविधं प्रमाणम् ॥ २ १ ॥ trividham pramanam [ 21] trividham : three Pramanam : valid proofs Meaning : [There exists] three valid proofs Explanation: Proofs are categorized as : By direct perception By inference By authority of realized ones and by their revealed scriptures

28. त्रिविधं दुःखम् ॥ २ २ ॥ trividham duhkham [22] Trividham : three kinds Dhukham : misery Meaning : [there exists] three kind of miseries Explanation: these miseries are explained as under: Adhyatmika ( Interpersonal) – these miseries are to be cured by internal means. They have two categories Mental – such as desire, passion, jealousy, greed, fear, depression Physical- imbalance of natures Adhibhautika : misery caused through the agency of other beings Adhidaivika : misery caused through the agency of natural forces and the conscious powers of the subtler worlds

29. एतत् पारम्पर्य़ यातातथ्यं ॥ २ ३ ॥ etat paramparaya yathatathyam [ 23] Etat : this Paramparaya : tradition Yatha : in order that tathyam : exact yathatathyam : in accordance with the truth Meaning : This is the tradition in accordance with reality(truth)

30. एतत् सर्वम् ज्ञात्वा कृतकृत्यः स्यात् न पुनः त्रिविधेन दुःखेनानुभूयते ॥२ ४ ॥ etat sarvam jnatava krtakrtya syat na punas trividhena duhkhena anu-bhuyate [24] Etat : this Sarvam : the whole, completely Jnatava : knowing Krtakrtya:one who has accomplished what he wanted Syat : perhaps(it is) Na : no (never) Punas : again Trividhena : three kinds of Dukhena : miseries, sorrows Anubhuyate : experience Meaning : Knowing the whole of this, one has accomplished his task, Never again will the threefold misery come to be [for him ]