Sāṃkhya Kārikā verse 2
dṛṣṭavat-ānu-śravikaḥ saḥ hi-aviśuddhi-kṣayā-atiśaya-yuktaḥ | tat-viparītaḥ śreyān vyaktāḥ avyakta-jña-vijñānāt ||
dṛṣṭa - seen, looked at, beheld, perceived, viewed, observed, noticed; visible, apparent, observable; considered, regarded; treated of; appearing, manifested; occurring, found; experienced, suffered, endured; seen in the mind, devised, imagined, learned,anu - follow, one after another, followingśravika - heard spiritual teachingsaviśuddhi - Impuritykṣaya - diminish, wasting or wearing awayatiśaya - excess, excessive; eminence, superiorityyukta - connected; skilful; made use oftat - that, thisviparīta - reversed , invertedśreyas - better state, better fortune or condition; auspicious; preferable; rather thanvyakta - caused to appear, manifested, apparent, visible, evidentavyakta - undeveloped, not manifest, unapparent, indistinct, invisible, imperceptiblejña - knowingvijñāna - special knowing, comprehensionCommentaries and Reflections
Commentary by Paul Harvey:
“The usual means to reduce suffering are
linked to impurity, decay and excess.”