The Sānkhya Kārikā, with the Bhāshya of Gauḍapāda — trans. H. T. Colebrooke and H. H. Wilson (1837)

Subtile: the rudimental elements, that, when aggregated, form the rudimental or subtile body, characterised by intellect (mahat) and the rest, and which always exists, and undergoes successive states of being (transmigration): those are subtile (bodies). Such as spring from father and mother are the cementers or means of the aggregation of gross bodies, or by the effect of the mixture of blood and seminal secretion in sexual cohabitation, at fit seasons they form the envelopment of the subtile body in the womb; that subtile body then is nourished, through the umbilical cord, by the nutriment derived from the food and drink received by the mother; and the (entire) body, thus commenced with the triple ingredient of the subtile rudiments, the cognate investure, and the gross elements, becomes furnished with back, belly, legs, neck, head, and the rest; is enveloped in its sixfold membranes; is provided with blood, flesh, tendons, semen, marrow, and bones; and is composed of the five gross elements; ether being supplied for its cavities (or extension), air for its growth, fire for its nutriment, water for its aggregation, and earth for its stability: and thus being equipped with all its (component) parts, it comes forth from the maternal womb. In this way there are three kinds (of bodies): which of these is constant, and which temporary, is next described. The subtile bodies are lasting. —Subtile ; rudimental elements : these are dusting, constant; by them body is commenced, and migrates, according to the imperative influence of acts, through the forms of beasts, deer, birds, reptiles, or immovable substances ; or, in consequence of virtue, proceeds through the heaven of Indra, and other celestial abodes, So the subtile body migrates until knowledge is attained; when that ix

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attained, the sage, abandoning all body, acquires liberation: these sorts of bodies, or subtile, therefore, are called dusting. Such as issue from Sather and mother are perishable —Having left that subtile body, the frame that proceeds from mother and father ceases, even here, at the time that the breath departs; the body born of parents ceases at the time of death, and merges into earth and the other gross elements.

What subtile body is, and how it migrates, is next described.

COMMENT.

Objects were distinguished in the preceding verse according as they were with or without specific or diversified effects: they are here classified according to their forms, their origin, and duration.

A question of some difficulty, however, arises here, as to the objects of the classification. Are they bodies in general? or are they gross bodies only? In the preceding stanza it was stated, that the subtile elements, the ¢an mdtras, were unspecific; whilst their effects, the gross elements, were ‘specific,’ visésha. It is now stated, that there are three kinds of viséshas, * sorts, species, specific differences ;’ but it is not explicitly defined of what these are the varieties. Mr. Colebrooke, following the principal commentators, renders it ‘sorts of objects; that is, of bodies in general. Professor Lassen, carrying on the sense of visésha, ‘ specific,’ from the preceding stanza, considers the variety here spoken of to concern only gross or perceptible elementary bodies: “ Distincta, elementa que distincta dicuntur (ver. 38). Distinctorum triplex est divisio in subtilia, a parentibus progenita, crassa” (ver. 39). He admits that the commentators are against this interpretation, but concludes rather that they are in error, than that Iswara Karissa should have employed the word visésha in a double sense.

The interpretation of Prof. Lassen is highly creditable to his critical acumen and judgment, and is possibly correct, although it is searcely compatible with the notions of subtilty and durability which the text ascribes to this branch of the triad. His view is not, as he supposes, wholly unsupported by the commentators; for VisxAxa Baiksuv similarly explains the stanza, as will presently be noticed. The passage

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