Sāṃkhya Kārikā verse 11
त्रिगुणमविवेकि विषयः सामान्यमचेतनं प्रसवधर्मि । व्यक्तं तथा प्रधानं, तद्विपरीतस्तथा च पुमान् ॥ ११ ॥triguṇam-aviveki viṣayaḥ sāmānyam-acetanaṃ prasava-dharmi | vyaktaṃ tathā pradhānaṃ tat-viparitaḥ tathā ca pumān ||
tri - threeguṇa - an ingredient or constituent or attribute of nature; a property or characteristic of all created things; qualities; a quality, peculiarity, attribute or property; the peculiar properties of the lettersaviveka - absence of judgement or discrimination; non-separation, non-distinctionviṣaya - an object of sense; anything perceptible by the senses; any object of affection or concern or attentionsāmānya - general, generic, not specific, alike, similardharmīn - substratumvyakta - caused to appear, manifested, apparent, visible, evidentpradhāna - the principal or first, chief, head of, prime, major; the most important or essential part; unevolved or root of matter, original source; the creative principle of naturetat - that, thisviparīta - turned round, reversed, inverted; being the reverse of anything, acting in a contrary manner, opposite, contrary to; going asunder or in different directions, various, differentacetana - without consciousness, inanimate; unconscious, insensible, senselesstathā - so, like, after that manner.ca - andpumān - spirit; person; manCommentaries and Reflections
Commentary by S Ramaswami:
After discussing the character of the evolved and the unevolved by way of the differences we now move onto the similarities and through these we can differentiate with the Spirit.
These are common characteristics between Prakṛti and its effects or manifestations. Puruṣa though similar, is the reverse of these.
trigunam- Three characteristics (Tamas, Rajas, Sattva).
aviveki- Inability to discriminate. Lacking discrimination, choice.
viṣayaḥ- They are objects. From the Gross to the Subtle. i.e. Chair to experiences. (in Yoga Drisya- that which is observed).
sāmānyam- Common, general, no choice.
acetanam- Non-Intelligent, No Consciousness.
prasavadharmi- Production, Capable of Production. (Prasav -give birth to).
The above six characteristics are common to Vyakta (the evolved).
vyaktam- Evolved
tathā- Similarly, also.
pradhānam- Also of Pradhāna (Avyakta)
tadviparitaḥ- That Different, reverse.
tathā- Also, similar.
ca- Though.
pumān- Puruṣa, Spirit.
Puruṣa though similar, is the reverse of these things.
The owner is different from what is owned.
pumān- One who has a city.
Puruṣa- One who lives in a city.
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The next Sloka goes into a description of the three constituents or Guṇa.