Samkhya Karika 44

धर्मेण गमनमूर्ध्वं गमनमधस्ताद् भवत्यधर्मेण ।
ज्ञानेन चापवर्गो विपर्ययादिष्यते बन्धः ॥ ४४ ॥

dharmeṇa gamanamūrdhvaṁ gamanamadhastād bhavatyadharmeṇa ।
jñānena cāpavargo viparyayādiṣyate bandhaḥ ॥ 44 ॥

Dharmeṇa=through dharma (virtue); gamanam=movement; ūrdhvaṁ=upward; gamanam=movement; adhastāt=downward; bhavati=happens; adharmeṇa=through non-virtuous deeds; jñānena=by knowledge; ca=and; apavargaḥ=liberation; viparyayāt=from the reverse (of knowledge); iṣyate=attained (lit. desired); bandhaḥ=bondage

By virtue, one attains ascent to higher planes; by non-virtue (vice), descent to the lower planes; from wisdom is attained liberation; and bondage from the reverse (ignorance).

In karika 42 we saw that the subtle body, through association with instrumental causes and their effects, assumes different roles during transmigration. In the present karika and the next, the consequences of each bhava are explained.

Again, interpretation of the karika is left to the imagination of the commentators. The bhava of virtue (dharma) leads to ‘upward’ movement (transmigration into higher planes). Gaudapada lists eight higher regions, those of Brahmā, Prajāpati, Soma, Indra, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Rākshasas, and Pishāchas. These are celestial beings mentioned in the ancient Pauranic literature. Non-virtue (adharma) leads to movement to lower planes belonging to animals, birds, reptiles, and immobile objects.

According to another interpretation, the seven higher planes are: Bhūḥ, Bhuvah, Svaḥ, Mahaḥ, Jana, Tapas and Satya. The seven lower planes, one below the other, are: Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Rasātala, Talātala, Mahātala and Pātāla.

Knowledge (jnana) leads to liberation whereas ignorance (avidya) leads to bondage which results in cycles of transmigration. Knowledge refers to understanding the distinction between Purusha and Prakriti. Ignorance (avidya) implies identifying Purusha with one or more of the 23 elements that have evolved from Mula Prakriti.

Mishra talks about three categories of bondage

prākṛtika (प्राकृतिक) – related to Mula Prakriti: those who, unaware of the independence of Purusha, dwell on Mula Prakriti attain prākṛtika bondage;

vaikṛtika (वैकृतिक) – related to the 23 evolutes of Prakriti: those who dwell on the senses, mind, ego and the intellect attain vaikṛtika bondage;

dākṣaṇika (दाक्षणिक) – those who perform sacrificial offerings or undertake charitable activities, primarily for personal gain, suffer from this type of bondage.