It describes the philosophy of the
Samkhya school. The edition that survives in modern times is dated to the 14th century. The text consists of six chapters. The first three describe core Samkhya doctrines, the fourth chapter describes stories for illustration of the doctrines, the fifth reviews arguments and challenge by rival Indian philosophies particularly Buddhism on one side and Theistic philosophy on the other side, then provides its analysis and answers to those challenges. The last chapter recapitulates its thesis, summarizes its main points and makes conclusions. Major sections and thesis presented in the text include (not exhaustive): • Samkhya is a
Moksha Shastra • Samkhya is the only true Advaita Shastra • Samkhya is not in conflict with the
Vedas • The Samkhya plurality of Self (soul) versus the Vedanta unity of Self • Definition of Supreme Good • Thesis on Suffering - what it is, and why it happens • Scripture is inadequate means to enlightenment • Theory of bondage; Bondage is not natural • Theory of Naimittika •
Purusha and
Prakṛti • Theory and nature of Prakriti • Theory of conjunction • Theory of
Vidya and
Avidya • The problem with Sunyavada, Theory of void and its criticism • Theory of Aviveka • Doctrines of
Yoga and
Vedanta • Theory of learning and reasoning, limits of reason • Theory of spiritual intuition • Theory of
Gunas • Twenty five
tattvas • The enumeration theory of
Samkhya and Garbha,
Prasna and
Maitreya Upanishads • Theory of
Tanmatras •
Ahamkara (ego) and its nature • Roots of Samkhya:
Brihadaranyaka and
Chandogya Upanishads • Theory of prakriti evolution, objection of logicians • The "root cause is rootless" doctrine • The chain of causality and the primary causality • Why Prakriti, not Purusha, is the material cause • The "world is not unreal" doctrine • The "why nothing come out of nothing" doctrine • The "rituals can never become the cause of moksha" doctrine • The "freedom from
samsara is not the result of
Karma" doctrine • The "knowledge leads to release, and this is not perishable" doctrine • Theory of "process of knowing" and three kinds of
pramana (epistemology) • Theory of existent effects, what is existence and what is non-existence • The purpose of creation, the cause of successive creation • The theory of space and time • The theory of manas (mind), sensory organs, cognition, and human nature • Sources of knowledge • The rebirth doctrine • The
Jivanmukti doctrine (liberation while alive) and the theory of
Viveka • Fables • Review of opposite theories and objections, the Samkhya answers The most important commentary on the text is ’s '''' (16th century). Other important commentaries on this text include Anirruddha's '
(15th century), ’s ' (c. 1600) and ’s ''''. ==Notes==