Samkhya Karika 39

Kārikā 39

सूक्ष्मा मातापितृजाः सह प्रभूतैस्त्रिधा विशेषाः स्युः ।
सूक्ष्मास्तेषां नियता मातापितृजा निवर्तन्ते ॥ ३९ ॥

sūkṣmā mātāpitṛjāḥ saha prabhūtaistridhā viśeṣāḥ syuḥ ।
sūkṣmāsteṣāṁ niyatā mātāpitṛjā nivartante ॥ 39 ॥

sūkṣmāḥ=subtle; mātāpitṛjāḥ=born of father and mother; saha=along with; prabhūtaiḥ=gross elements; tridhā=three-fold; viśeṣāḥ=specific; syuḥ=are; sūkṣmāḥ=subtle; teṣāṁ=among them; niyatāḥ=ever-lasting; mātāpitṛjā=born of mother and father; nivartante=are perishable

Subtle elements, those born of mother and father, and the gross elements are the threefold specific elements. Of these, the subtle are permanent, while those born of parents are perishable.

In the previous karika, the five gross elements – earth, water, fire, air and ether – were listed as specific (viśeṣa). The five subtle elements (tanmātra) – smell, taste, sight, touch and sound – were mentioned as non-specific (a-viśeṣa ). In the present karika, a further sub-division of the category ‘specific’ is mentioned.

The specifics (viśeṣa) are a composite of:

• subtle elements (sūkṣma)
• those born of mother and father
• the five gross elements.

The second half of the karika states that the subtle elements are “permanent” while those born of mother and father are perishable.

The subtle body transmigrates from one physical body to the next at the time of death. Hence it has been terms as ‘permanent’. Of course, we know that it is permanent only as long as kaivalya (full liberation) is not achieved. The physical bodies which are born of mother and father are perishable.

As we notice, the karika does not provide a precise definition of the terms “subtle” and “specific/non-specific”. Neither Gaudapada not Mishra make any effort to define these terms. According to some other commentators, the subtle includes all the eighteen elements – intellect, ego, mind, the eleven sense organs and the five subtle elements. The five gross elements are the only non-subtle elements. The term ‘vishesha’ (specific) is applied to those elements that can be experienced and thus aid in providing bhoga (experience) and apavarga (liberation) for the purusha.

In karika 38, the five subtle elements (tanmātra) were labeled as “non-specific”. As per the present karika, the specifics include the “subtle” along with those born of mother and father and the five gross elements. Looking at these two statements, it would seem like the five tanmātras cannot be included in the category of “subtle” or else they would become “specific”. But it is common belief that subtle body which is inclusive of all the eighteen elements, including the tanmātras, are involved in process of transmigration. Thus, this doubt remains regarding the status of the five tanmātras.

Both Gaudapada and Mishra offer some more details about the formation of the physical body. The body is a composite of the three mentioned in this karika – the subtle body which transmigrated from a previous birth, physical body made from the seminal fluids of the parents and the five gross elements. Of the five gross elements, ether provides space, wind provides growth, fire provides nourishment, water provides aggregation, and earth provides stability.

As per Mishra, the physical body born of mother and father consists of six sheaths (koshas). Of these, hair, blood and flesh are from the mother whereas nerves, bones and marrow are from the father. At the time of death, the physical body dissolve either into fluids (when buried), or ash (when cremated), or putrid matter (when left to decay).