The Samkhya Philosophy

The Samakhya system of Kapila is said to have been existing during the seventh century B.C.E. The system is most notable for its theory of evolution and for its reduction of the numerous Categories of Nyaya and Vaisesika to two fundamental, ones, namely, prusha and prakriti, the former being understood as Universal Awareness and the latter as a Universal Energy. The present volume is in reality, a collection of all the available original documents of the School of the Samakhyas, with the single exception of the commentary composed by Vyasa on the Samakhya-Pravachana-Yoga Sutram of Patanjali, The samakhyas distinguist the effect under the two fold aspect of simple manifestation and of reproduction. Thus, the coin is an instance of causation by re production, while the production of cream from milk is an instance of causation by simple manifestation.

Nandlal Sinha completed his master degree and Bachelor of Law at the very early age. He competed the Provincial Civil Services exam and posted as Deputy Magistrate at Daltonganj. This book is translated by him.

The present volume of the Sacred Books of the Hindus which bears The Contents of the the modest title of the SAmkhya-Pravachana-Satram, Volume is, in reality, a collection of all the available original documents of the School of the Samkhyas, with the single exception of the commentary composed by Vyasa on the Simkhya-Pravachana-Yoga-Satram of Patanjali. For it contains in its pages not only the Samkhya-Praca chana-Satram of Kapila together with the Vritti of Aniruddha, the Bharya of Vijnana Bhiksu, and extracts of the original portions from the Vrit tisira of Verlantin Malideva, but also the Tattoa-Samasa together with the commentary of Narendra, the Samkhya-Karika of Isvarakrisna with profuse annotations based on the Bharya of Gaudapada and the Tattoo Kaumudi of Vachaspati Misra, and a few of the Aphorisms of Pancha sikha with explanatory notes according to the Yoga-Bhâşya which has quoted them. An attempt, moreover, has been made to make the volume useful in many other respects by the addition, for instance, of elaborate analytical tables of contents to the Sankhya-Pravachana-Sutram and the Samkhya-Karika, and of a number of important appendices.
In the preparation of this volume, I have derived very material help from the excellent editions of the Vritti of Aniruddha and the Bhagya of Vijnana Bhiksu on the Samkhya-Pravachana-Satram by Dr. Richard Garbe, to whom my thanks are due. And, in general, I take this opportunity of acknowledging my indebtedness to all previous writers on the Samkhya, living and dead, from whose writings I lyve obtained light and leading in many important matters connected with the subject.
An introduction only now remains to be written. It is proposed, however, to write a soparate monogram on the Samkhya Daréana, which would be historical, critical and comparative, in its and character. In this preface, therofore, only a very brief account is given of some of the cardinal doctrines of the Samkbya School.