Sāṃkhya Kārikā verse 15
भेदानां परिमाणात्, समन्वयात्, शक्तितः प्रवृत्तेश्च । कारणकार्यविभागात्, अविभागाद्वैश्वरूप्यस्य ॥ १५ ॥bhedānāṃ parimāṇāt samanvayāt śaktitaḥ pravṛtteḥ ca |
kāraṇa-kārya-vibhāgāt-avibhāgāt-vaiśvarūpyasya ||
Commentaries and Reflections
Commentary by S Ramaswami:
bhedānām- The effect cannot go beyond the original cause.
parimāṇāt- Limited quantity, i.e. a potter cannot produce more pots than for the amount of clay.
However with the same amount he can produce a number of different types of pots.
i.e. Bhuddi, Ahaṃkāra, 5 Tanmātra, 5 Māha Bhūta , 11 Indriya.
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If there is no original cause, as the Bhuddists say, how do you account for the limited number of products? Because the created world is limited.
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samanavayat- To balance.
Taking special qualities and inferring an original cause.
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śaktitaḥ-pravṛtteḥ- From the absence of any other quality, we infer that Pradhāna has the ability to produce. Functioning through energy.
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kāraṇa- Cause. That which is capable of doing something.
kārya- Effect. That which has been produced.
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avibhāgāt- Non separate.
It is possible for us to separate Cause and effect.
I.e. A pot can be used to hold milk, water, honey, etc…Whereas in its original state of clay it is inert. So it is different and yet has the same quality.
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avibhāgāt- Now divide cause and effect to fund the original cause.
vaiśvarūpyasya- Th manifest universe. The 23 principles.
Because the end cannot be found in these, we have to infer that there is a final cause beyond them.
An independent original cause.