प्रकृतिं पुरुषं चैव विद्ध्यनादी उभावपि । विकारांश्च गुणांश्चैव विद्धि प्रकृतिसंभवान् ॥
prakṛtiṃ puruṣaṃ caiva viddhyanādī ubhāvapi | vikārāṃśca guṇāṃścaiva viddhi prakṛtisambhavān ||
Translation
Know that both Prakriti and Purusha are beginningless. And know that modifications and the gunas arise from Prakriti.
Interpretation
The Sankhya metaphysics: both prakriti (material nature) and purusha (consciousness) are anadi — without beginning. Neither is caused by the other; they are eternally co-existent principles. From prakriti arise vikara (all modifications — the changes and transformations of the material universe) and gunas (the three qualities: sattva, rajas, tamas). Prakriti is the source of all phenomenal diversity; Purusha is the witnessing consciousness. The entire manifest universe is prakriti's modifications; the Self that witnesses it all is purusha.