विशेषाविशेषलिङ्गमात्रालिङ्गानि गुणपर्वाणि ॥२.१९॥
विशेषाविशेषलिङ्गमात्रालिङ्गानि गुणपर्वाणि ॥२.१९॥
पदविभाग: विशेष-अविशेष-लिङ्गमात्र-अलिङ्गानि, गुण-पर्वाणि।
अन्वय: विशेषाविशेषलिङ्गमात्रालिङ्गानि गुणपर्वाणि (भवन्ति)।
प्रतिपदार्थ: विशेष = the specific / specialized / gross (having distinct physical boundaries), अविशेष = the unspecific / unspecialized / subtle, लिङ्गमात्र = having merely a mark / the first differentiated state / the pure intellect (Mahat), अलिङ्गानि = having no mark / undifferentiated / the unmanifest root (Prakriti), गुण = the three fundamental qualities of nature (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas), पर्वाणि = states / stages / levels of evolution.
तात्पर्यम्: The stages of the Gunas (the fundamental qualities of nature) are the specific (gross), the unspecific (subtle), the merely marked (differentiated), and the unmarked (unmanifest).
Further context on the 70th Sutra from Patanjali’s Yogasutras
Yoga philosophy is undoubtedly built entirely on the Sankhya philosophy, which states that nature is made out of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. All that’s dark, ignorant and heavy is considered Tamas. Rajas refers to activity. Sattva is calmness and light. In Sankhya cosmology, nature is both the material and efficient cause of this Universe. Before creation, nature was in the state of Avyaktam or unmanifested which is also the state in which these three gunas are held in perfect balance. This balance is disturbed and the Universe is born with the intermingling of these three gunas. In every human being too, these three gunas are present in various degrees
As per Sankhya, the highest manifestation of these three gunas is Mahat or Universal intelligence. And the human mind is part of Universal intelligence. Manas or the mind function carries is the playing field for impressions to rise, occur and disperse. This Manas presents the impressions to Buddhi aka individual Mahat which acts as the discerning/deciding faculty. Buddhi is the finest state of existence of the material world and then comes Ahamkara or egoism. And beyond the whole of this is the Purusha who is immaterial and immortal.
The above sutra says that the states of the three gunas are defined, undefined, marked and signless. The defined refers to the gross elements which we can sense. Undefined refers to the fine elements. The marked or “indicated only” is the first manifestation of nature or the Buddhi out of which all manifestations proceeded (Big Bang maybe?). Lastly, the signless refers to the Purusha who is the ultimate sentient being behind all forms of existence.
Comments