Samkhya Karika 45

वैराग्यात् प्रकृतिलयः संसारो भवति राजसाद्रागात् ।
ऐश्वर्यादविघातो विपर्ययात् तद्विपर्यासः ॥ ४५ ॥

vairāgyāt prakṛtilayaḥ saṁsāro bhavati rājasādrāgāt ।
aiśvaryādavighāto viparyayāt tadviparyāsaḥ ॥ 45 ॥

Vairāgyāt=from dispassion; prakṛtilayaḥ=absorption into Prakriti; saṁsārah=transmigration; bhavati=results; rājasāt=from rajas guna; rāgāt=from attachment; aiśvaryāt= from power; avighātaḥ=non-impediment; viparyayāt=from the opposite (weakness); tadviparyāsaḥ=contrary (impediment)

Dispassion results in absorption into Prakriti; from passion driven by Rajas results transmigration; from power comes non-impediment (of desires) and from the reverse (weakness) results the contrary (impediment).

In the previous karika, the four bhavas – dharma (virtue), jñāna (knowledge) and their opposites – were discussed. In the present karika, the remaining four – vairāgya (dispassion), aiśvarya (power) and their opposites – are being discussed.

The karika states that dispassion results in absorption into Prakriti. According to Gaudapada, achieving vairagya (dispassion) without realizing the truth of Purusha will result in merger with eight of the elements of Prakriti –
Pradhana (mula prakriti), intellect, ego and the five tanmatras (subtle sense perceptions).

In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, two levels of vairagya are given – the lower level¹ (apara vairagya) and the higher level² (para vairagya). The lower level of vairagya can only lead up to samprajnata samadhi, the samadhi with an object of meditation. Only the highest level of vairagya can lead to asamprajnata samadhi (wherein the object of meditation is also given up).

In the present karika, since vairagya is stated to lead only to the state of “merger in prakriti” and not to the state of kaivalya (final liberation), it is inferred that the lower level of vairagya, as given by Patanjali, is intended here.

The word prakritilaya is also mentioned in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (sutra 1.19³) while discussing the two stages of samadhi – samprajnata and asamprajnata. In their discussion of this sutra, most commentators equate prakritilaya with the highest state of samprajnata samadhi which corresponds to ‘asmitā’ (pure essence of being). Having not attained the highest level of samadhi, the person will go through transmigration and will be reborn so as to attain the state of kaivalya (liberation).

The opposite of vairagya is raga which is attachment to the objects of the senses. This attachment is driven by the guna rajas which makes this attachment to and desire for the objects even stronger. This leads to the transmigration (saṁsāra) of the subtle body (karika 40).

The next bhava of the intellect mentioned is aishvarya (power). Most commentators equate aishvarya with the attainment of eight siddhis (super-normal powers) which are listed as:

• Aṇimā: Ability to reduce one’s size
• Mahimā: Ability to increase one’s size
• Garimā: Ability to become heavier
• Laghimā: Ability to become lighter
• Prāpti: Ability to Obtain anything
• Prākāmya: Ability to fulfill your desires
• Iṣiṭva: Lordship over creation
• Vaśitva: Control over everything

When one is endowed with aishvarya, there can be no impediment (avighāta) to the fulfillment of one’s desires. When the intellect is not endowed with this power (anaishvarya), one experiences obstructions in every aspect of one’s life.

[Note 1] Sutra 1.15: दृष्टानुश्रविकविषयवितृष्णस्य वशीकारसंज्ञा वैराग्यम्॥१५॥ dr̥ṣṭa-anuśravika-viṣaya-vitr̥ṣṇasya vaśīkāra-saṁjṇā vairāgyam ॥15॥
Detachment (vairagya) is the consciousness of perfect mastery in one who has ceased to crave for objects, seen (experienced thru the five senses) or heard about (thru scriptures etc.) (1.15)

[Note 2] Sutra 1.16: तत्परं पुरुषख्यातेर्गुणवैतृष्ण्यम्॥१६॥ tatparaṁ puruṣa-khyāteḥ guṇa-vaitr̥ṣṇyam ॥16॥
The state of supreme dispassion (higher than the one described earlier) is attained when discernment of the Self (purusha) leads to cessation of all craving caused by the three gunas. (1.16)

[Note 3] Sutra 1.19: भवप्रत्ययो विदेहप्रकृतिलयानाम्॥१९॥ bhava-pratyayo videha-prakr̥ti-layānām ॥19॥
For the disembodied and those merged in Prakriti, rebirth is the cause for liberation. (1.19)