Sankhya and Yoga

[gokulkr]

Sankhya and Yoga

 

In the second chapter, from verses 12 to 39, there is detailed account of Sankhya or knowledge. The main points that constitutive the ingredients of this knowledge are: 1. The souls are eternal and many (II-12). 2, Bodies go on changing (II-13). 3. The cause of suffering is attachment (II-14). 4. Performance of good deeds does not lead to misery. Wrong deeds do lead to misery (II-16). 5. The prakriti or primordial matter is eternal and Brahman or God is eternal (II-16). 6. Jiva can not act independently, God alone is independent (II-19, II-20 and II-21), 8. The creation, etc., activities of God are real. His attributes are real. He is supreme (II-24). 9. He is avyakta, he is achintya (II-25), 10. One has to discharge one’s svadharma without any hesitation. To discharge one’s svadharma is a great opportunity in life. While discharging one’s svadharma one should be unmindful of pleasure and pain or loss or gain (II-31, 32, 38). This is the essence of right knowledge. This is Sankhya.

 

This knowledge enables one to realize the following facts, which are very relevant to the present context:

 

 

1. The self is eternal. It is only the body that that is destroyed.

2. It is attachment to the bodies, etc., that causes the grief.

3. One should discharge one’s duties unmindful of pleasure and pain.

4. One is entirely dependent upon God. God is supreme and regulator of all. It is the realization of this fact that removes attachment, which is the root cause of all misery.

 

It is the realization of supremacy of God that is Sankhya or knowledge. One who acquires this knowledge will not hesitate to discharge his duty in dedication to God with deep devotion to him. This Sankhya happens to be the foundation of Yoga or Karmayoga and its discussion right at the commencement of the Gita is very relevant to the issue of on hand viz. whether to fight or night?