Samkhya Karika 14

अविवेक्यादिः सिद्धः त्रैगुण्यात्तद्विपर्ययाभावात् ।
कारणगुणात्मकत्वात् कार्यस्याव्यक्तमपि सिद्धम् ॥ १४ ॥

avivekyādiḥ siddhaḥ traiguṇyāttadviparyayābhāvāt ।
kāraṇaguṇātmakatvāt kāryasyāvyaktamapi siddham ॥ 14 ॥

Aviveki= Indiscriminativeness ; ādiḥ=etc.; siddhaḥ=established, proved; traiguṇyāt=from the three gunas; tad=its; viparyaya=opposite; abhāvāt=due to absence; kāraṇa=cause; guṇātmakatvāt=being of the nature of (the cause); kāryasya=of the effect; avyaktam=non-manifest; api=also; siddham=proved;

Indiscriminativeness and the rest of the properties of a discrete principle are proved by the influence of the three gunas, and the absence thereof in the reverse. The nondiscrete/unmanifest principle, moreover, is demonstrated by effect possessing the properties of its cause (and by the absence of contrariety).

In karika #8 we noted that the 23 elements of the manifest are in some ways similar to and in others different from prakriti. Differences between manifest and unmanifest were given in karika 10 and their similarities in karika 11. The first in the list of similarities, the three gunas, were further explained in karikas 12 and 13. In karika 14 we are provided evidence that unmanifest exists.

The first half of the first line simply reiterates the fact that indiscreetness and the other attributes of the manifest (as given in karika 11) are proved by the influence of the three gunas. The second half of the first line, “from the reverse of that”, has been interpreted differently by V. Mishra and Gaudapada. Mishra brings in the concept of Purusha saying that the absence of the properties of the manifest can be attributed to Purusha as not being connected with the three gunas and the other properties. Gaudapada stays with the establishment of the unmanifest. According to him the statement refers to the unmanifest where the reverse of the properties of the manifest, i.e., the three gunas, discreetness etc. are not present in the unmanifest. The second line brings in the concept of “satkaryavada” which states that the qualities associated with the effect (the 23 elements of the manifest) must be inherent in the unmanifest. Thus the presence of the unmanifest is established. Gaudapada gives the example that cloth can be made only when threads are present. Also, from black threads, only black cloth can be made.