YSP Study Group – Sutra 2.21

तदर्थ एव दृश्यस्यात्मा॥२१॥

tadartha eva dr̥śyasya-ātmā ॥21॥

tat = his [the Seer, Purusha’s]; artha = purpose; eva = only; dRushyasya = of the knowable, of that which is seen; atmaa = essential nature, existence

Taimni

"The very being of the Seen is for his sake (i.e. Prakrti exists only for his sake)"

Aranya

"To Serve As Objective Field To Purusa Is The Essence Of Nature Of The Knowable"

Bryant

"The essential nature of that which is seen is exclusively for the sake of the Seer"

Discussion

This sutra seems like a repetition of what has already been stated in sutra 2.18. Sutra 2.18 states, “The Seen (prakriti) consists of the three gunas – elements of nature – sattva, rajas and tamas, and the sense organs and has the purpose of providing Purusha with experience and liberation”.

The current sutra reemphasizes that the very nature of being of the Seen (buddhi or prakriti) is to serve the purpose of Purusha. Thus the nature of the knowable or the Seen is to be an object for the Purusha (for experience and liberation, as stated above). As such, all cognition that happens in the buddhi (sense perceptions etc.) are for the purpose of Purusha. Since buddhi (or prakriti) is inert and has no consciousness, it needs Purusha for the manifestation of any cognition that happens through the five senses etc. We must remember that Purusha is not an active agent in these cognitions; cognition happens merely due to the proximity of Purusha with Prakriti (buddhi).