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CHAPTER II
SĀNKHYA IDEAS IN PRE-ISVARAKRSNA LITERATURE
SAMKHYA IN THE UPANIŞADAS
Though we are in this thesis primarily concerned with the study of the theory of pariņāma in the Samkhya darśana, we cannot understand it without a knowledge of its other doctrines. We have seen, in the previous chapter, the early formulations of pariņāma ideas. Now let us study the early occurrence of otherSamkhya ideas. So I propose to give a brief account of Samkhya ideas as found in per-īśvaraksșņa literature.
SĀMKHYA IDEAS IN THE UPANIŞADS
In one of the oldest Upanişads viz. the Cha.Up., the passage (VI. 4) which states that behind all things there are really three primary colours, the red, the white and the black which may really be said to exist, while all other things that are constituted out of them are merely a word, a modification and a name.' contains according to scholars like Prof. Ranade, the rudiments of the Samkhya Guņa Theory. The names Sattva, Rajas and Tamas, however, it may be noted, get the earliest mention in the Maitrayaņi, a late Upanișad.
According to Das Gupta, a comparison and combination of the two passages of the Chā. Up. viz. - one noted above (VI. 4) and the other (VI. 1.4) stating, “as by one clod of clay, all that is made of clay is known, the difference being only in name, arising from speech, so it is only the clay that is true' -practically give the evolution - Pariņāma theory of the Sāmkhya school.3
1 A detailed account of the same is given in 'Sāmkhya System' by
Keith, Ch. I. p. 1 to 19 and in 'Yoga Philosophy' by Das Gupta,
p. 17 to 34. 2 'A Constructive Survey of Upanişadic Philosophy' p. 182. 3 'Yoga Philosophy in relation to other systems of Indian Thought
p. 33-34.
