Mr. H. T. CoLEBROOKE on the Philosophij of the Hindus. 35 



fold, its prevention is so likewise : as is the consequent perfection of the 

 understanding. This is direct. The remaining five species are indirect, 

 viz. reasoning ; oral instruction ; study ; amicable intei'course ; and purity, 

 internal and external (or, according to another interpretation, liberality). 

 They are means of arriving at perfection. 



The Sunc'hya, as otlier Indian systems of philosophy, is much engaged 

 with the consideration of what is termed the three qualities {guna) : if 

 indeed quality be here the proper import of the term ; for the scholiast of 

 Capila understands it as meaning, not quality or accident, but substance, a 

 modification of nature, fettering the soul ; conformably with another 

 acceptation of gun a, signifying a cord.* 



The first, and highest, is goodness (satiwa). It is alleviating, enlight- 

 ening, attended with pleasure and happiness : and virtue predominates in it. 

 In fire it is prevalent ; wherefore flame ascends, and sparks fly upwards. In 

 man, when it abounds, as it does in beings of a superior order, it is the cause 

 of vii-tue. 



The second and middlemost is foulness or passion (rajas or tejas). It is 

 active, urgent and variable ; attended with evil and misery. In air it pre- 

 dominates : wherefore wind moves transversely. In living beings it is the 

 cause of vice. 



The third and lowest is darkness {tamos'). It is heavy and obstructive : 

 attended with sorrow, dulness, and illusion. In earth and water it predo- 

 minates, wherefore they fall or tend downwards. In living beings it is the 

 cause of stolidity. 



These three qualities are not mere accidents of nature, but are of its 

 essence, and enter into its composition. " We speak of the qualities of 

 nature, as we do of the trees of a forest," say the Sdnc'hyas.-f In the 

 Fedas they are pronounced to be successive modifications, one of the other: 

 " All was darkness : commanded to change, darkness took tiie taint of 

 foulness : and this, again commanded, assumed the form of goodness." 



They co-operate for a purpose, by union of opposites : as a lamp, which 

 is composed of oil, a wick, and flame,]; substances inimical and contrary. 



Taking the three quahties by which nature is modified, for principles or 

 categories, the number, before enumerated, is raised to twenty-eight ; as is 

 by some authorities maintained.§ ;., 



* Vijnydn. on Cap. 1.60. -j- Seine hya-sdra. J Cdr. 13. 



^ Vijnydna /j/iin/iu in Sdnchi/n-sdra and Capiln-bhashya. 



F 2 



