Sāṃkhya Kārikā verse 31
स्वां स्वां प्रतिपद्यन्ते परस्पराकूतहेतुकां वृत्तिम् । पुरुषार्था एव हेतुर्न केनचित्कार्यते करणम् ॥ ३१ ॥svāṃ svāṃ pratipadyante paraspara-ākūta-hetukāṃ vṛttim | puruṣa-artha eva hetuḥ na kenacit kāryate karaṇam ||
sva - own; one's self, one's own, my own, thy own, his own, her own, our own, their ownprati - with regard to; towards, in the direction of; back, in return, again; in opposition to, against, counter; back, down upon, upon, onpadya - a way, path, roadparaspara - like one anotherākūta - incitement to activity; intention, purpose, wishhetu - cause, cause of; motive; reason forvṛtti - fluctuation; modification; turning; set in motion, course of action, behaviour, movement; activity, function; profession, mode of life or conduct, course of action, behaviourpuruṣa - contentless consciousness; animating principle; unchanging self; pure consciousness; spirit; a person, man, a human being; peopleartha - purpose, aim; sense, meaning, notion; thing, object; acquirement of wealth; to go to one's business, take up one's workeva - indeed, truly, really; thus; so, just so, exactly sona - no; not; nor, neitherkenacit - whatsoever; with anyone; with. anythingkārya - an effect, result; to be made or done or practised or performed, practicable, feasible; to be caused to dokaraṇa - a helper, companion; instrument, means of action; doing, making, effecting, causing; the act of making, doing, producing, effectingCommentaries and Reflections
Commentary by S Ramaswami:
svām- Respective (One’s own)
pratipadyante- Functions. Bhuddi. Ahaṃkāra, Manas act to produce experience for Puruṣa.
paraspara- Mutual helping each other.
ākuta- One supporting the other
hetukãm– Cause
vṛttim-The activity of the various Indriya
puruṣārtha- Mutual helping each other
eva- Only
hetuḥ- The cause
na-By
kenacit-Nothing Else
kāryate–To act
karaṇam- Instrument
The organs (external and internal) discharge or operate in their respective functions, prompted by mutual impulsion.
The goal of the spirit is alone the cause, by nothing else is any instrument activated.
—
The goal of the spirit is of course release from three-fold misery.
Because of its presence (Puruṣa) Prakṛti acts and provides it (Puruṣa) with experience.
However, there is no desire, no memory, but its presence is necessary for Prakṛti to act.
Puruṣa does not desire experience nor release.
Desirelessness is still in the realm of Prakṛti.
This point is to establish the absence of an infinite controlling force such as Brahman.
There is no other independent cause that activates the Prakṛti. There is no Īśvara to control the universe.
Thus this Śloka is known as the principle of Nirīśwara Sāṃkhya.
There is no other cause than Puruṣa.
The Guṇa act only to provide the experience to Puruṣa.
The Prakṛti does not act for Īśvara or Puruṣa.