THE SANKHYA KÄRIKĀ OF AN EXPOSITION OF THE SYSTEM OF KAPILA. WITH AN APPENDIX ON THE NYAYA AND VAISESHIKA SYSTEMS. BY JOHN DAVIES, M.A. (CAntab.) MEMBER OF THE ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY, OF THE CAMBRIDGE PHILOLOGICAL SECOND EDITION. LONDON: KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRÜBNER, & CO. LTD PATERNOSTER HOUSE, CHARING CROSS ROAD. 1894. Libr Chica. Au 6-11-46 55649 PREFACE. I WISH to present to my readers the philosophy of Kapila as it has been set forth by his Indian exponent, Iswara Krishna. The system of Kapila, called the Sānkhya or Rationalistic, in its original form, and in its theistic development by Patanjali, contains nearly all that India has produced in the department of pure philosophy. Other systems, though classed as philosophic, are mainly devoted to logic and physical science, or to an exposition. of the Vedas. The system of Kapila may be said to have only an historical value, but on this account alone it is interesting as a chapter in the history of the human mind. It is the earliest attempt on record to give an answer, from reason alone, to the mysterious questions which arise in every thoughtful mind about the origin of the world, the nature and relations of man, and his future destiny. It is interesting, also, and instructive to note how often the human mind moves in a circle. The latest German philosophy, the system of Schopenhauer and Von Hartmann, is mainly a reproduction of the philosophic system of Kapila in its materialistic part, presented in a more elaborate form, but on the same fundamental lines. In |