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Kapila (Hindi: कपिल ऋषि)
was a Vedic sage
credited as one of
the founders of the
Samkhya school of
philosophy. He is
prominent in the
Bhagavata Purana,
which features a
theistic version of
his Samkhya
philosophy.[1]
Traditional Hindu
sources describe him
as a descendant of
Manu, a grandson of
Brahma, and an
avatar of Vishnu.
The Bhagavad Gita
depicts Kapila as a
yogi hermit with
highly developed
siddhis, or
spiritual powers. Many of the details about sage Kapila's life are described in Book 3 of the Bhagavata Purana, where it is mentioned that his parents were Kardama Muni and Devahuti. After his father left home, Kapila instructed his mother, Devahuti in the philosophy of yoga and devotional worship of Lord Vishnu, enabling her to achieve liberation (moksha). Kapila's Sankhya is also given by Krishna to Uddhava in Book 11 of the Bhagavata Purana, a passage also known as the "Uddhava Gita".  Kapila is also mentioned by Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita: Of all trees I am the banyan tree, and of the sages among the demigods I am Narada. Of the Gandharvas I am Citraratha, and among perfected beings I am the sage Kapila.(10.26) Birth of the Ganges Kapila is a major figure in the story associated with the descent of the Ganga (Ganges) river from heaven. King Sagara, an ancestor of Rama, had performed the Aswamedha yagna (Horse-sacrifice) ninety-nine times. On the hundredth time the horse was sent around the earth Indra, the King of Heaven, grew jealous and kidnapped the horse, hiding it in the hermitage of Kapila. The 60,000 sons of Sagara found the horse, and believing Kapila to be the abductor assaulted him. Kapila turned his assailants to ashes. Anshuman, a grandson of King Sagara, came to Kapila begging him to redeem the souls of Sagara's 60,000 sons. Kapila replied that only if the Ganges descended from heaven and touched the ashes of the 60,000 would they be redeemed.[5] The Ganges was eventually brought to earth, redeeming the sons of Sagara, through the tapasya of King Bhagiratha. Teachings Kapila's Samkhya is taught in various Hindu texts: Mahabharata * "Kapila said, "Acts only cleanse the body. Knowledge, however, is the highest end (for which one strives). 5 When all faults of the heart are cured (by acts), and when the felicity of Brahma becomes established in knowledge, benevolence, forgiveness, tranquillity, compassion, truthfulness, and candour, abstention from injury, absence of pride, modesty, renunciation, and abstention from work are attained. These constitute the path that lead to Brahma. By those one attains to what is the Highest." (Book 12: Santi Parva: Mokshadharma Parva: Section CCLXX, p. 270-271). * "Bhishma said (to Yudhisthira), 'Listen, O slayer of foes! The Sankhyas or followers of Kapila, who are conversant with all paths and endued with wisdom, say that there are five faults, O puissant one, in the human body. They are Desire and Wrath and Fear and Sleep and Breath. These faults are seen in the bodies of all embodied creatures. Those that are endued with wisdom cut the root of wrath with the aid of Forgiveness. Desire is cut off by casting off all purposes. By cultivation of the quality of Goodness (Sattwa) sleep is conquered, and Fear is conquered by cultivating Heedfulness. Breath is conquered by abstemiousness of diet. (Book 12: Santi Parva: Part III, Section CCCII.) [6] Bhagavata Purana * "My appearance in this world is especially to explain the philosophy of Sankhya, which is highly esteemed for self-realization by those desiring freedom from the entanglement of unnecessary material desires. This path of self-realization, which is difficult to understand, has now been lost in the course of time. Please know that I have assumed this body of Kapila to introduce and explain this philosophy to human society again." (3.24.36-37) * "When one is completely cleansed of the impurities of lust and greed produced from the false identification of the body as "I" and bodily possessions as "mine," one's mind becomes purified. In that pure state he transcends the stage of so-called material happiness and distress."(3.25.16) |
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