Samkhya elements in the Bhagavata-purana
by Jumli Nath | 2017 | 62,959 words
This page relates ‘Meaning of the term Purana� of the English study dealing with the treatment of Samkhya elements in the Bhavata-Purana. The Puranas are a vast reservoir of Indian religious and cultural wisdom. Sankhya refers to one of the oldest and the authentic system of Indian philosophy ascribed to sage Kapila. This analytical study delves into the reflection of Samkhya philosophy within the Bhagavatapurana by researching original texts, translations, commentaries and scholarly articles.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
Part 1 - Meaning of the term ʳܰṇa
The term ʳܰṇa is explained differently by different thinkers. The word ʳܰṇa means ܰṇa� Բ�, i.e., old narrative.[1] ṻ岹 states the term ʳܰṇa in the sense of ancient.[2] 첹 in his Nirukta has given the derivative meaning of ʳܰṇa as ܰ Բṃbپ (which is ancient yet new).[3]
The ʳܰṇas themselves explain the term ʳܰṇa. Vāyuܰṇa mentions ʳܰṇa means tradition or that which exists from the ancient times[4] .The Brahmāṇḍaܰṇa says that it is called ʳܰṇa because it existed in ancient times.[5] Though the word ʳܰṇa originally means ancient or old narrative, yet ʳܰṇa is used as the designation of a class of literature with old stories and legends. The Matsyaܰṇa also explains this word in the similar tone. It says that ʳܰṇa contains records of past events.[6] The Padmaܰṇa also gives the similar derivation by saying that it is called ʳܰṇa because it desires or like the past.[7] Eminent scholar Raṅgācārya defines the term ʳܰṇa as ܰ nava (ܰ = old, nava= new) which means things are as good as new though existing from olden times.[8] Though there are large portion of wide imagination dealing with the human side in the ʳܰṇas many truths about the universe can be grasped from them.
Footnotes and references:
[2]:
ṻ岹 , 3.54.9
[3]:
Nirukta, 3.4.9
[4]:
yasmāt ܰ hyanatīda� ܰṇa� tena tasmṛtam/ Vā P., 1.183
[5]:
yasmāt ܰ hyabhūccaitat ܰṇa� tena tatsmṛta�/ Br P., 1.1.17
[6]:
ܰtaṇasya kalpasya ܰṇāni vidurbudhā�/ Matsya-ܰṇa , 53.63
[8]:
Puranic Encyclopaedia, p. 617