Samkhya Karika 36

एते प्रदीपकल्पाः परस्परविलक्षणा गुणविशेषाः ।
कृत्स्नं पुरुषस्यार्थं प्रकाश्य बुद्धौ प्रयच्छन्ति ॥ ३६ ॥

ete pradīpakalpāḥ parasparavilakṣaṇāḥ=characteristically different from one another; guṇaviśeṣāḥ kṛtsnaṁ puruṣasyārthaṁ prakāśya buddhau prayacchanti ॥ 36 ॥

Ete=these; pradīpa=lamp; kalpāḥ=similar to; parasparavilakṣaṇā guṇaviśeṣāḥ=different modifications of the gunas; kṛtsnaṁ=all; puruṣasyārthaṁ=for the sake of purusha; prakāśya =having illuminated; buddhau=in the buddhi; prayacchanti=presents

These (the external organs, together with manas and ahaṁkāra), characteristically different from one another and being different modifications of the three gunas, resemble a lamp in action; thus, having illuminated their respective organs, present it in its entirety to buddhi (intellect) to serve the purpose of Purusha.

The purpose of the twelve organs talked about previously – five organs of sense perception, five organs of action, manas (mind), and ahamkara (ego) – is presented in this karika. In the first line of the karika are presented some of the attributes of these organs:

• parasparavilakṣaṇāḥ (mutually different): Each one of these twelve organs has a specific function to perform which is not shared by the others. For example, eyes can only see, nose can only smell etc.
• guṇaviśeṣāḥ (products of the three gunas): As we have seen before, every element in Prakriti is a product of the three gunas – sattva, rajas and tamas – which are constantly changing.
• pradīpakalpāḥ (like a lamp): We know that in a lamp, the wick, oil and the flame have different properties; yet they work together as a team toward the same goal which is to produce light. In the same manner, all these twelve organs have different functions and properties individually. Eyes bring in visual images, ears pick up different sounds etc. The information gathered by these organs is presented to the mind (manas) which makes the initial determination. For example, it is the mind that determines that the image brought in by the eyes is that of a flower or some fruit etc.  The ahamkara (ego) adds labels like “I like/dislike it”, “I want/don’t want it” etc. This information in its entirety is presented to the buddhi (intellect) which then offers it to the Purusha. Thus, they all work together toward attaining the same goal, that of serving the purpose of Purusha. 

Even though the purpose of Purusha served by these organs is not specifically stated in this karika, it is discussed in the next karika (#37) to mean the two objectives of bhoga (experiences) and apavarga (liberation). The same concept is also presented in the yoga sutras by Patanjali (sutra 2.18). 

प्रकाशक्रियास्थितिशीलं भूतेन्द्रियात्मकं भोगापवर्गार्थं दृश्यम्॥१८॥ 

prakāśa-kriyā-sthiti-śīlaṁ bhūtendriya-ātmakaṁ bhoga-apavarga-arthaṁ dr̥śyam ॥18॥ 

“The seen (Prakriti) is of the nature of the gunas: illumination (sattva), activity (rajas) and inertia (tamas); and consists of the elements and sense organs, whose purpose is to provide both experiences and liberation to the Purusha.” (sutra 2.18)