Shloka 16
Sāṅkhya: Categories of the Absolute Truth and the Unfolding of Creation
Tattva-vicāra
प्रभावं पौरुषं प्राहु: कालमेके यतो भयम् । अहङ्कारविमूढस्य कर्तु: प्रकृतिमीयुष: ॥ १६ ॥
prabhāvaṁ pauruṣaṁ prāhuḥ kālam eke yato bhayam ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhasya kartuḥ prakṛtim īyuṣaḥ
May ilan na nagsasabing ang kāla (panahon) ay ang impluwensiya ng Kataas-taasang Purusha; sapagkat mula rito sumisibol ang takot (sa kamatayan) sa kaluluwang nalilinlang ng huwad na ego, na inaakalang siya ang gumagawa matapos dumikit sa prakriti.
The living entity’s fear of death is due to his false ego of identifying with the body. Everyone is afraid of death. Actually there is no death for the spirit soul, but due to our absorption in the identification of body as self, the fear of death develops. It is also stated in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.37) , bhayaṁ dvitīyābhiniveśataḥ syāt. Dvitīya refers to matter, which is beyond spirit. Matter is the secondary manifestation of spirit, for matter is produced from spirit. Just as the material elements described are caused by the Supreme Lord, or the Supreme Spirit, the body is also a product of the spirit soul. Therefore, the material body is called dvitīya, or “the second.” One who is absorbed in this second element or second exhibition of the spirit is afraid of death. When one is fully convinced that he is not his body, there is no question of fearing death, since the spirit soul does not die.
FAQs
This verse states that some regard Time as the Lord’s supreme power because fear arises from Time—especially for the ego-deluded soul who identifies as the doer within material nature.
Kapila is teaching Devahūti Sāṅkhya: when the soul is bewildered by ahaṅkāra and claims doership, it becomes bound to prakṛti and therefore experiences fear under the force of Time.
Reduce anxiety by shifting from “I control everything” to humble stewardship—offer actions to the Lord, accept limits of control, and cultivate devotion that loosens ego-based fear.