Samayasara OR Nature of Self

Author(s): A Chakravarti
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith

Page 88

INTRODUCTION
Ixxxv11 Reality is some how constituted by numbers according to Pythogares. It is scarcely necessary to point out how unfounded such a suggestion is It is a sample of that method which very often builds up fantastic theories merely on the strength of verbal analogy
Sarkhya Method—The philosophical method adopted by the Sankhya school is just the method of discrimination or vivekagnana. This method of discrimination is expounded as a means of salvation from Samsara By the way, we may point out that this is the motive of all the Indian systems of thought-how to obtain liberation from the Samsaric cycle of births and deaths. Such a freedom according to Sankhya philosophy is to be obtained by “discrimination” 01 knowledge of the distinction between the spiritual principle or Purusha and the environmental existence or Prakriti.
The Sources of Sankhya—The existing works through which we can have an idea of the Sankhya system are mainly the following Some of these are in the sutra form and the others in the form of commentaries. (1) Sankhya sutras or otherwise known as Sankhya pravachanasutras is traditionally ascribed to Kapıla himself. But this belief is quite unfounded. There is clear evidence to show that this is quite a modern work. Sankara and Vachaspati Mishra the great philosophical commentators never refer to this work at all. Gunaratna, the commentator on Shaddarsanasamuchaya while mentioning seveial other works on Sankhya does not refer to this work even by name. Hence this is considered neither important nor an authoritative work on the Sankhya school of thought.
(2) Tatvasamasa: This work also is erroneously attributed to Kapila. Max Muller elaborately argues that this work is a genuine work of Kapila. His arguments are far from convincing and hence his view is not accepted by modern scholars. (3) Sankhyasara: This is by Vignanabikshu who wrote a commentary on the Sankhyapravachanasutra. Hence this work is a compendium of his commentary. (4) Sankhya-karika of Iswara Krishna: This work contains a clear exposition of the Sankhya system. It is a small work of 72 couplets and may be considered as an early