Samkhya Karika 72

सप्तत्यां किल येऽर्थास्तेऽर्थाः कृत्स्नस्य षष्टितन्त्रस्य।
आख्यायिकाविरहिताः परवादविवर्जिताश्चाऽपि ॥ ७२॥

saptatyāṃ kila ye’rthāste’rthāḥ kṛtsnasya ṣaṣṭitantrasya ākhyāyikāvirahitāḥ paravādavivarjitāścā’pi॥ 72॥

saptatyāṃ=in the seventy (verses); kila=indeed; ye=those; arthāḥ=topics; te=those; arthāḥ=topics; kṛtsnasya=in totality; ṣaṣṭitantrasya=of the Shashti Tantra; Ākhyāyikā=stories; virahitāḥ=without; paravāda=refutation (of other doctrines); vivarjitāḥ=without; ca=and; api=too;

The topics discussed in the seventy verses are the same as those discussed in the Shashti Tantra (sixty topics) but without the illustrative stories and refutation of other doctrines.

 

Samkhya Karika 71

शिष्यपरम्परयागतमीश्वरकृष्णेन चैतदार्याभिः।
सङ्क्षिप्तमार्यमतिना सम्यग्विज्ञाय सिद्धान्तम् ॥ ७१॥

śiṣyaparamparayāgatamīśvarakṛṣṇena caitadāryābhiḥ।
saṅkṣiptamāryamatinā samyagvijñāya siddhāntam ॥ 71॥

Śiṣya=disciple; paramparayā=via a long tradition; āgatam=has been handed down; īśvarakṛṣṇena=by Ishwara Krishna; ca=and; etat=this; āryābhiḥ=in the meter called Aryā; saṅkṣiptam=condensed; āryamatinā=through sharp intellect; samyak=thoroughly; vijñāya=having understood; siddhāntam=the doctrine;

This doctrine, handed down via a long tradition of disciples to ishwara Krishna who, after understanding it thoroughly with his sharp intellect, has presented a condensed version set in the Arya meter.

Samkhya Karika 70

एतत् पवित्रमग्र्यं मुनिरासुरयेऽनुकम्पया प्रददौ ।
आसुरिरपि पञ्चशिखाय तेन बहुधाकृतं तन्त्रम् ॥ ७०॥

etat pavitramagryaṃ munirāsuraye’nukampayā pradadau ।
āsurirapi pañcaśikhāya tena bahudhākṛtaṃ tantram ॥ 70॥

Etat=this; pavitram=pure; agryaṃ=foremost; muniḥ=Sage (Kapila); āsuraye=for Asuri; anukampayā=out of compassion; pradadau=imparted; āsuriḥ=Asuri; api=too; pañcaśikhāya=to Panchshikā; tena=by him; bahudhākṛtaṃ=for many more; tantram=knowledge;

This knowledge which is foremost and pure was imparted by Sage Kapila to Asuri out of compassion, and by Asuri to Panchshikha who gave it to many more.

Samkhya Karika 69

पुरुषार्थज्ञानमिदं गुह्यं परमर्षिणा समाख्यातम् ।
स्थित्युत्पत्तिप्रलयाश्चिन्त्यन्ते यत्र भूतानाम् ॥ ६९ ॥

puruṣārthajñānamidaṁ guhyaṁ paramarṣiṇā samākhyātam ।
sthityutpattipralayāścintyante yatra bhūtānām ॥ 69 ॥

Puruṣārtha=for the sake of Purusha; jñānam=knowledge; idaṁ=this; guhyaṁ=secret; parama=great; ṛṣiṇā=by the sage; samākhyātam=has been presented; sthiti=sustenance; utpatti=creation; pralayāḥ=dissolutions; cintyante=are considered; yatra=wherein; bhūtānām=of the beings

This deep, secret knowledge, intended for the liberation of Purusha, wherein the sustenance, creation and dissolution of the beings are considered, has been presented by the great Rishi.

Samkhya Karika 68

प्राप्ते शरीरभेदे चरितार्थत्वात् प्रधानविनिवृत्तौ ।
ऐकान्तिकमात्यन्तिकमुभयं कैवल्यमाप्नोति ॥ ६८ ॥

prāpte śarīrabhede caritārthatvāt pradhānavinivṛttau ।
aikāntikamātyantikamubhayaṁ kaivalyamāpnoti ॥ 68 ॥

prāpte=on attaining; śarīrabhede=on attaining separation from the body; caritārthatvāt=its purpose having been served; pradhāna=mūla Prakriti; vinivṛttau=having ceased to act; aikāntikam=absolute; ātyantikam=final; ubhayaṁ=both; kaivalyam=freedom; āpnoti=attains

When, in due course, Prakriti has ceased to act, Purusha, having attained separation from the body, its purpose having been fulfilled, attains final and absolute liberation.

Samkhya Karika67

सम्यग्ज्ञानाधिगमाद्धर्मादीनामकारणप्राप्तौ ।
तिष्ठति संस्कारवशाच्चक्रभ्रमणवद्धृतशरीरः ॥ ६७ ॥

samyagjñānādhigamāddharmādīnāmakāraṇaprāptau ।
tiṣṭhati saṁskāravaśāccakrabhramaṇavaddhṛtaśarīraḥ ॥ 67 ॥

Samyak=perfect; jñāna=knowledge; samyagjñāna=knowledge of the Self; adhigamāt=on attainment of; dharmādīnām=of dharma (virtue) etc.; akāraṇa=not being the cause; prāptau=on attaining; tiṣṭhati=stays; saṁskāra=past impressions; vaśāt=due to; cakra=(potter’s ) wheel; bhramaṇavat=just like the spinning of; dhṛta=invested with; śarīraḥ=body

On the attainment of true knowledge, virtue and the rest (the attributes of Buddhi) cease to function as the cause. However, Purusha continues to stay with the body on account of the samskaras, just like a potter’s wheel that continues to spin even after the potter has stopped the effort to turn the wheel.

Samkhya Karika 66

रङ्गस्थ इत्युपेक्षक एको दृष्टाहमित्युपरमत्येका ।
सति संयोगेऽपि तयोः प्रयोजनं नास्ति सर्गस्य ॥ ६६ ॥

raṅgastha ityupekṣaka eko dṛṣṭāhamityuparamatyekā ।
sati saṁyoge’pi tayoḥ prayojanaṁ nāsti sargasya ॥ 66 ॥

Raṅgastha=spectator at a stage play; iti=thus; upekṣakaḥ=indifferent; ekaḥ=one; dṛṣṭā=have been seen; aham=I; iti=thus; uparamati=ceases to act; ekā=one; sati=on being; saṁyoge=in close proximity; apāeven; tayoḥ=of the two; prayojanaṁ=purpose; na=not; asti=is; sargasya=creation

One (Purusha) is indifferent like a spectator in a stage play; the other (Prakriti), saying ”I have been seen”, ceases to act. Now, even though they may be in proximity with each other, there is no more motivation for creation.

Samkhya Karika 65

तेन निवृत्तप्रसवामर्थवशात् सप्तरूपविनिवृत्ताम् ।
प्रकृतिं पश्यति पुरुषः प्रेक्षकवदवस्थितः स्वस्थः ॥ ६५ ॥

tena nivṛttaprasavāmarthavaśāt saptarūpavinivṛttām ।
prakṛtiṁ paśyati puruṣaḥ prekṣakavadavasthitaḥ svasthaḥ ॥ 65 ॥

Tena=by this (knowledge of the elements); nivṛtta=ceased; prasavām=productive; arthavaśāt=on fulfilment of objective; sapta=seven; rūpaforms; vinivṛttām=free of; prakṛtiṁ=Prakriti; paśyati=observes; puruṣaḥ=Purusha; prekṣakavat=as a spectator; avasthitaḥ=situated; svasthaḥ=at ease

With this knowledge (of the tattvas), Purusha, as a spectator, unmoved and at ease, watches Prakriti, who has ceased to be productive and has turned back from the seven forms, under the influence of the purpose of Purusha.

Samkhya Karika 64

एवं तत्त्वाभ्यासान्नास्मि न मे नाहमित्यपरिशेषम् ।
अविपर्ययाद्विशुद्धं केवलमुत्पद्यते ज्ञानम् ॥ ६४ ॥

evaṁ tattvābhyāsānnāsmi na me nāhamityapariśeṣam ।
aviparyayādviśuddhaṁ kevalamutpadyate jñānam ॥ 64 ॥

evaṁ=thus; tattva=elements (25 tattvas); abhyāsāt=through study, practice; nāsmi=I am not; na=not; me=mine; na=not; aham=I; iti=thus; apariśeṣam=decisively; aviparyayāt=undisputed; viśuddhaṁ=pure; kevalam=alone, free; utpadyate=is obtained; jñānam=ultimate knowledge;

Thus, through the study of the tattvas (25 principles), the conclusive, pure, incontrovertible, the ultimate knowledge is obtained as per which one knows: “I am not”, “nothing is mine”, “not-I”.

Samkhya Karika 63

रूपैः सप्तभिरेव तु बध्नात्यात्मानमात्मना प्रकृतिः ।
सैव च पुरुषार्थं प्रति विमोचयत्येकरूपेण ॥ ६३ ॥

rūpaiḥ saptabhireva tu badhnātyātmānam ātmanā prakṛtiḥ ।
saiva ca puruṣārthaṁ prati vimocayatyekarūpeṇa ॥ 63 ॥

Rūpaiḥ=by forms; saptabhiḥ=seven-fold; eva=alone; tu=indeed; badhnāti=binds; ātmānam=herself; ātmanā=by herself; prakṛtiḥ=Prakriti; sa=she; eva=alone; ca=and; puruṣārthaṁ=for the sake of Purusha; prati=towards; vimocayati=liberates; ekarūpeṇa=by means of one form

Prakriti binds herself by herself by means of the seven forms (seven dispositions of the buddhi). Again, she releases herself for the purpose of Purusha by means of one form (one of eight).