Tattva Samasa

1. तत्त्वसममास Tattva-samāsa A Compendium of the Principles of Nature Picture by D K Cha

2. Introduction There is no knowledge like sankhya and no power like yoga [ नमाससत समामासाांख्यसममासाां जमानमासाां नमाससत
ययोगसममासाां बलमासाां ] Sankhya and Yoga are two philosophy to attain communion with God( मयोक). In chapter 3
verse 3 of Bhagvad Gita ,Lord Krishna says-- In this world, two faiths were declared by me. path of
knowledge( जमान) for Sankhya yogis, path of actions ( कमम) for yogis [लयोकक ऽसतमन्द्ववववधमा ननष्ठमा पपरमा
पयोकक सकमा मयमान । जमानययोगकन समामासाांख्यमानमामासाां कममययोगकन ययोगगनमाम क ।।3।।] In Chapter 5, it is elaborated Only the
ignorant speak of Yoga and Sankhya as being different [समामासाांख्यययोगग पथ
प ग्बमालमा: वपदससन्द न पससससमा: ।BG5.4]
and it is further mentioned that Without yoga , practise of Sankhya is difficult[सन्दन्दयमासततप महमाबमाहयो
द:प खममाप कसकपमययोगग: ।BG5.6] {continued}
3. Introduction Discourse of Sankhya in the form of Tattva Samasa was done by Mahrishi Kapil to Aasuri.
At present only 22 sutras are available and it makes the basis of Sankhya philosophy. These 22 sutras have
been deliberated in detail in various scriptures at different times. As explained on previous slide, Yoga and
Sankhya are paths to attain the same goal. These two paths meet at many places and yogi following any of
the path gets benefitted knowing other path, therefore, one needs to understand Tattva Samasa ,in order to
understand Mahrishi Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Keeping this in mind, the following slides explain in brief, the
meaning of 22 sutras discoursed by Mahrishi Kapil
4. अष्टग पकप सकयय ॥१॥ aṣṭau prakṛtayaḥ [1]  astau : Eight  prakrtayah: Natures Meaning of Sutra:
[There are] eight origin of evolutes (natures) Explanation: The following are the eight prakritis: Prakriti
:Nature, the equilibrium of three gunas, itself not evolved from any other origin, but the primordial source of
all other evolutes Buddhi: faculty of discrimination, intelligence Ahamkara: ego, identifying principle tan-
matras: five subtle elements of sound, touch, form , flavour and smell
5. वषयोश ववकमारमाय ॥२॥ ṣoḍaśa vikārāḥ [2]  soadasa: sixteen  vikarah: transformation, apparition
Meaning: [There are] sixteen transformations/ apparitions Explanation: The sixteen transformations or
apparitions are: Indriyas: Eleven senses which consists of mind, five cognitive senses and five active senses
Bhutas or tattvas: five gross elements which are space, air, fire, water and earth ( evolved in this order)
6. पपरुषय ॥३॥ purushah [3]  purushah: the consciousness, ever pure, ever wise, ever free Meaning: Soul
Explanation: sutra 1 & 2 described 24 elements( tattav) which are without conscious and 25th element is
the consciousness (purush).Purush at different places has been identified as part of God.
7. तत्रैगपसयम कक ॥४॥ traigunyam[4]  trai: three  gunyam: qualities, attributes Meaning: [The prakriti has ]
three qualities or attributes Explanation: The prakriti ( 24 in number as explained in sutra 1 & 2) has three
attributes( gunas). Sattva, rajas, tamas. These three attributes are in equilibrium before the creation of
evolutes. These attributes represent the principles of illumination , activity and stasis. Their disequilibrium
in different proportions produces different evolutes which have already been mentioned in sutra 1 and 2.
Anything beside purush( 25th element) has three attributes
8. समासाांचरय ॥५॥ sancharah[5]  sancharah: emanation, evolution Meaning: [there is continuous] emanation
Explanation: There is a continuous chain of transitions from non-evolute prakriti towards the evolutes.
This transition ends at the grossest evolute , the earth.
9. पतनसमासाांचरय ॥६॥ prati-sancharah [6]  prati-sancharah: resolution, moving backward, withdrawal
Meaning: [There is continuous] withdrawal Explanation: There is also a continuous chain of reverse
transition from evolutes towards dissolution into prakriti. Sancharah and prati sancharah is a pair of
transition from one to another. This is also known as creation and destruction (स्रसष्ट और पलय )
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10. अध्यमात्मम क अगधभभभम कअगधददत्रै म्च ॥७॥ adhyatmam adhibhūtam adhidaivataṃ ca [7]  adhyatmam: The
Supreme Self  Adhibhutam: The Supreme Substrate of Elemental Nature  Adhidaivatam: The Supreme
Diety  Ca: and  Meaning: The supreme self, the supreme substrate of Elemental Nature and the supreme
Deity [ are the three types of creation] Explanation: The creation (स्रसष्ट ) has three types.  Supreme self,
nature and deity .  The categories under direct control of the Supreme Self are: Mental: intelligence, ego
and mind physical: five cognitive senses and five active senses Attributes of the objects of experience such
as the intelligible, the identifiable , the thinkable , the sounds heard etc
11. पन्दचमाभभबपदध्यय ॥८॥ pancha abhi buddhayah [8]  pancha: five  abhi buddhayah: functions of
intellect, activities of intelligence Meaning:[there are ] five activities of intelligence Explanation: these
five activities are given as under: Abhibuddhi: i must do this Abhimana: i do this ichchha: desire , want
kartavya: indulgence of the cognitive senses kriya: operations of the active senses
12. पञ्च कममययोनयय॥९॥ pancha karma yonayah [9]  pancha: five  karma yonayah: sources of actions
Meaning: [there are] five sources of actions Explanation: dhriti: resolution of mind , speech and action
shraddha: inclination of faith, generosity of mind, charity, acts of prayer sukha: acts undertaken with
expectation of a comforting or pleasant result a-vividhisha: tendency that blocks the desire for knowledge
vividhisha: desire to know matters relating to spirituality
13. पञ्च सकमातयय ॥१०॥ pancha vayavah [10]  pancha: five  vayavah: breaths , vital energy, vital winds
Meaning: [there are ] five [ types of] breathing Explanation: every person has five fields of vital energy
or pranas or vayu in the body. These are: prana, apana, samana, udana, vyana
14. पञ्च कममामत्ममानय ॥११॥ pancha karmatmanah [11]  pancha : five  karmatmanah: living beings as per
actions Meaning: [there are] five [kinds of] living beings [categorized as per their] actions (karmas)
Explanation: vaikarika: with sattvic ego, naturally inclined to perform good deeds taijasa: with rajasic
ego , naturally inclined to perform evil acts bhutadi: with tamsic ego, performing act of stupefaction bhutadi
are further categorized in two: sanumana: performing good acts of stupefaction niranumana: performing evil
acts of stupefaction
15. पञ्चवपमामऽववदधमा ॥१२॥ pancha parva avidya[12]  pancha : five  parva avidya: ignorance Meaning:
[There are] five[kinds of] ignorance Explanation: 12 to 15 sutras enumerate 50 modification of
intelligence. This sutra states that there are five kind of ignorance. These are: avidya(ignorance): mistaking
the eternal for the non- eternal and vice versa mistaking the pure with impure and vice versa mistaking
pleasure for pain & vice versa mistaking the self for non-self & vice versa asmita: I –am –ness raga:
attraction dvesha: aversion abhinivesha: fear of death
16. अष्टमाववमासाांशतनधमाऽशसकक सकय ॥१३॥ ashtavimshatidha ashaktih [13 ]  ashtavimshatidha :twenty eight 
ashaktih: incapacity  Meaning: [there are] 28 [kind of] incapacity Explanation: the incapacity are
enumerated as under incapacity of mind 1 incapacity of 5 cognitive senses 5 incapacity of 5 active senses 5
incapacity of intelligence 17 the incapacity of intelligence are various possible false views held regarding
reality. these 17 incapacities are opposites of 9 contentment and 8 accomplishment stated in next two sutras
17. तनधमा सकपसष्टय ॥१४॥ navdha tushtih[14]  navdha: nine  tushtih: contentment Meaning: [there are]
nine contentment Explanation: 4 spiritual and 5 external contentment comprises of 9 contentment.
Spiritual contentment: • matter will give me enlightenment • renunciation will give me enlightenment • time
will bring forth enlightenment • destiny will bring enlightenment • External contentment continued on next
slide
18. तनधमा सकपसष्टय ॥१४॥ navdha tushtih[14]  navdha: nine  tushtih: contentment Meaning: [there are]
nine contentment Explanation: [ continued from previous slide] external contentment are • The ways of
earning wealth are violent, exploitative & painful • Guarding wealth and sources of pleasure is painful •
Wealth , luxury & pleasure even well guarded are temporary • No matter how many objects of senses one

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enjoys, there is no satisfaction and the desires blaze evermore • It is not possible to enjoy oneself without
hurting other beings
19. अष्टधमा शसकक सकय ॥१५॥ ashtadha shaktih [15]  ashtadha: eight  shaktih: accomplishment, attainment
Meaning: [there are] 8 accomplishment Explanation: 8 accomplishment includes 3 primary and 5
secondary accomplishment 3 primary accomplishment are removal of 3 kinds of sufferings(intra-personal,
caused by other beings, caused by natural forces) [continued on next slide]
20. अष्टधमा शसकक सकय ॥१५॥ ashtadha shaktih [15]  ashtadha: eight  shaktih: accomplishment, attainment
Meaning: [there are] 8 accomplishment Explanation: [continued from previous slide] 5 secondary
accomplishments are • Contemplation with a logical mental process • Knowledge gained from scriptures •
Study • Gaining friends in the form of teacher, disciples, co- seekers • Self-purification Secondary
accomplishment are the means to primary accomplishments
21. दश मभ भ लकमाथमामय ॥१६॥ dasha mulika-arthah [16]  dasha: ten  Mulika-arthah: principles Meaning:
[There are] ten principle [tenets of the philosophy] Explanation: 1. There is a conscious self ( Purush) 2.
There is an original, unmanifest nature 3. There is a single unmanifested cause of all material objects 4. The
conscious self exists for no other one 5. Matter exists for serving the conscious self 6. Conscious self is
separate from prakriti 7. Conscious self is not an agent of actions 8. Union of matter with spiritual self
occurs 9. There are many purushas 10. After self-realization, the body may continue by the momentum of its
own laws
22. श्रनपग्रहय सगमय ॥१७॥ anugraha sargah [17]  anugraha: compassionate  sargah: creation Meaning:
creation of compassionate [feelings] Explanation: fivefold compassionate creation. 1. Five subtle
elements( tan-matras) 2. The appearance of divine , incarnate sages is also considered as compassionate
creation
23. गचदप मशववधयो भभस भ गमय ॥१८॥ chaturdashavidho bhuta- sargah [18]  chaturdash vidho: fourteen kind 
bhuta : living beings  sargah: creation Meaning: Creation of fourteen kinds of living beings
24. ततववधयो बन्दधय ॥१९॥ trividho bandhah [19]  trividho: three kinds of  Bandhah: bondage Meaning:
[there are ] three kinds of bondage Explanation: 1. Prakratika Bondage: identifying the self with the eight
prakritis 2. Vaikritika bondage: renunciates becoming attracted to objects of pleasure 3. Dakshina bondage:
a) Common worldly people’s involvement with ordinary desires and needs of life b) An ascetic’s
dependence on the offerings of laymen
25. ततववधयो मयोकय ॥२०॥ trividho mokshah [20]  trividho: three kinds of  mokshah: liberation Meaning:
[there are] three kinds of liberation Explanation: 1. Liberation arising from the full expansion of
knowledge 2. Liberation arising from the elimination of attachment 3. Liberation arising above good and
evil. In this kind, the self has abandoned all prakritic identification.
26. ततववधमासाां पममाणम क ॥२१॥ trividham pramanam [21] trividham : three Pramanam: valid proofs
Meaning: [There exists] three valid proofs Explanation: Proofs are categorized as : 1. By direct
perception 2. By inference 3. By authority of realized ones and by their revealed scriptures
27. ततववधमासाां दयप खम क ॥२२॥ trividham duhkham[22]  Trividham: three kinds  Dhukham: misery Meaning:
[there exists] three kind of miseries Explanation: these miseries are explained as under: 
Adhyatmika( Interpersonal) – these miseries are to be cured by internal means. They have two categories
Mental – such as desire, passion, jealousy, greed, fear, depression Physical- imbalance of natures 
Adhibhautika: misery caused through the agency of other beings  Adhidaivika: misery caused through the
agency of natural forces and the conscious powers of the subtler worlds
28. ससएक पमारम्पमर सतयमामाथ्यमासाां ॥२३॥ etat paramparaya yathatathyam [23] Etat: this Paramparaya: tradition
Yatha: in order that tathyam: exact yathatathyam: in accordance with the truth Meaning: This is the
tradition in accordance with reality(truth)

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29. ससएक भसमम क जमात कसकमा कप सककप त्यय ततयमाक न पन
प य ततववधकन दयप खकनमानभ
प भतयक ॥२४॥ etat sarvam jnatava krtakrtya syat
na punas trividhena duhkhena anu-bhuyate [24]  Etat: this Sarvam: the whole, completely  Jnatava:
knowing  Krtakrtya:one who has accomplished what he wanted  Syat: perhaps(it is) Na : no (never)
Punas: again  Trividhena: three kinds of  Dukhena: miseries, sorrows  Anubhuyate: experience
Meaning: Knowing the whole of this, one has accomplished his task, Never again will the threefold
misery come to be [for him]