1.8

Sanskrit Verse (Bhagavad Gita 1.8):

भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिंजयः | अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च || 1.8 ||

Transliteration:

Bhavān bhīṣmaś ca karṇaś ca kṛpaś ca samitiñjayaḥ |

Aśvatthāmā vikārṇaś ca saumadattis tathaiva ca || 1.8 ||

Literal Translation:

Drona said:

"Your excellency, Bhishma, Karna, Kripa, the unconquered, Ashwatthama, Vikarna, and Saumadatti as well, all are great warriors."

Samkhya Interpretation:

Bhavān (भवान्): The term "Bhavān" refers to "you", addressing someone with respect. In the Samkhya interpretation, this could symbolize the individual's higher self (Purusha), or the soul's true essence that transcends the ego and the distractions of material existence. It signifies the awareness that understands the battle between the mind (Prakriti) and the true self (Purusha).

Bhīṣma (भीष्म): Bhishma represents mental strength and steadfastness. In Samkhya, he symbolizes a mental tendency that is rigid, formed from strong samskaras that resist change. Bhishma is deeply entrenched in duty (dharma) and selfless service, which could symbolize a mental tendency that seeks attachment to self-righteousness, without flexibility for deeper spiritual understanding.

Karna (कर्ण): Karna represents action rooted in attachment, particularly towards loyalty and external validation. In Samkhya, this can be seen as the mental tendency where actions are driven by pride, ambition, or the desire to prove oneself, rather than true spiritual wisdom. Karna's actions often reveal a strong desire to assert the self in the material world.

Kripa (कृप): Kripa means compassion or mercy, which can be a noble mental tendency. However, in Samkhya, Kripa also represents overcompensation, when someone is unable to transcend attachment and may act out of pity or compassion that stems from the ego rather than true wisdom. Kripa here suggests the tendency of the mind to engage in mental attachments that arise out of desire for control or self-image.

Samitiñjaya (समितिंजय): The term "Samitiñjaya" means the unconquered or the invincible. In Samkhya, this can represent the unconquered aspects of the mind—those deeply ingrained samskaras (mental impressions) that resist change or transformation. They are entrenched mental tendencies that hold onto material identity and resist the true understanding of the self.

Ashwatthama (अश्वत्थामा): Ashwatthama is the son of Drona, representing the attachment to the family lineage and pride in ancestry. In Samkhya, Ashwatthama represents the tendency of the mind to cling to ancestral pride and self-importance, reinforcing the attachment to egoic identity. He symbolizes the fighting spirit driven by inherited tendencies, but without spiritual wisdom.

Vikarna (विकर्ण): Vikarna, though lesser known than others, symbolizes the mental aspect that is not fully aligned with the truth but still carries a sense of righteousness or moral stance. In Samkhya, this reflects a mental tendency that sometimes supports what is just, but still remains driven by ego-based motivations.

Saumadatti (सौमदत्ति): Saumadatti, like the others, is a great warrior, but in Samkhya, this name could represent the mental attachment to family connections and bonds. It points to the tendency to act out of family duty, which is deeply rooted in samskaras from one's early upbringing.

Samkhya Perspective:

In Samkhya, this verse describes the various influential mental faculties (symbolized by the warriors), each with a strong attachment to their particular mental tendencies or samskaras. These warriors, who appear as prominent and powerful forces in the material world, are seen as strong mental tendencies that control the mind of the individual.

Bhishma, Karna, and others represent the unshakable tendencies of the mind that are deeply rooted in ego and material attachments. These samskaras shape actions, thoughts, and perceptions, often leading to misidentification with the self.

Kripa and Ashwatthama reflect compassion and attachment to lineage, representing mental faculties driven by family obligations or the need for external approval.

The unconquered mental tendencies, represented by Samitiñjaya, reflect mental states that refuse to change, even when they are clearly obstacles to spiritual growth. In the battle for self-realization, these tendencies (mental warriors) must be observed, understood, and eventually transcended for the individual to move beyond attachment and ego.

In this way, the verse highlights the various forces that pull the mind in different directions, all driven by egoic tendencies and attachments to the material world. In Samkhya, the key is to recognize these forces and learn to transcend them in order to reach the true self (Purusha), free from the influence of Prakriti (the material world and its distractions).