Samkhya thoughts in the Mahabharata
by Shini M.V. | 2017 | 51,373 words
This page relates ‘Introduction to the Samkhyakarika of Ishvarakrishna’ 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.
Introduction to the Sāṃkhyakārika of Īśvarakṛṣṇa
The most celebrated text of Sāṃkhya is the Sāṃkhyakārikā of Īśvarakṛṣṇa. He asserts that he has presented Sāṃkhya principles in a summarized manner. Sāṃkhyakārikā has seventy two verses. Sāṃkhya as guhyaṃ is referred by Sāṃkhyakārikā, which means secret or mystery. According to Īśvarakṛṣṇa, Kapila duly expounded this secret knowledge. This provides an interesting information about the origin and early formulation of Sāṃkhya principles. It seems that even before Kapila gave the first systematic exposition of Sāṃkhya. The Sāṃkhya tradition Īśvarakṛṣṇa was there and the name is very important. Dr. S.N. Das Gupta describes Īśvarakṛṣṇa period may be around 200 C.E. It is said he is of kauśika gotra. The earliest authoritative of Sāṃkhya text is an extant now in Sāṃkhyakārikā of Īśvarakṛṣṇa.