In the context of Samkhya categories, match the items of List – I with that of List – II select the appropriate code.
List – I (Form) List – II (Metaphysical Entity)
(a) Both cause and effect (i) Prakriti
(b) Cause only (ii) Mahat
(c) Effect only (iii) Sensory organs
(d) Neither cause nor effect (iv) Subtle essences
(v) Mind
(vi) Purusa

Which sequence is correct ?
(a) (b) (c) (d)

Question

In the context of Samkhya categories, match the items of List – I with that of List – II select the appropriate code.

Which sequence is correct ?
(a) (b) (c) (d)

Prepp Team · Accepted Answer

Samkhya Categories: Matching Forms and Entities

This question requires matching the descriptions of causation (List I) with the corresponding Samkhya metaphysical entities (List II).

In Samkhya philosophy, entities are classified based on their role in the causal chain of manifestation:

Cause only: Entities that initiate a causal process but are not themselves effects within that specific sequence.
Effect only: Entities that are produced by a cause but do not initiate further causal processes in the primary sequence.
Both cause and effect: Entities that are effects of a prior cause and also serve as causes for subsequent entities.
Neither cause nor effect: Entities that are transcendent and outside the causal chain of Prakriti's evolution.

Based on the principles of Samkhya metaphysics and the provided options, the correct matching is determined as follows:

(a) Both cause and effect corresponds to (ii) Mahat (Buddhi/Intellect) and (iv) Subtle essences (Tanmatras). Mahat is the effect of Prakriti and cause of Ahamkara. Subtle essences are effects of Ahamkara and causes of the gross elements.
(b) Cause only corresponds to (i) Prakriti. Prakriti is the primordial matter, the ultimate uncaused cause of the manifest world.
(c) Effect only corresponds to (iii) Sensory organs (Indriyas) and (v) Mind (Manas). These are evolutes (effects) originating from Ahamkara.
(d) Neither cause nor effect corresponds to (vi) Purusa. Purusa is the pure consciousness, the spectator, which is inactive and outside the causal sequence.

Combining these matches, the correct sequence representing the options is:

(a) (ii) & (iv)

(b) (i)

(c) (iii) & (v)

(d) (vi)

This corresponds to the sequence presented in Option C.

Prepp Team · Answer

(vi) (v) (iii) & (iv) (i)

Prepp Team · Answer

(ii) & (iv) (vi) (iii) (v)

Prepp Team · Answer

(vi) (v) (iii) (vi)

List I		List II
School of Philosophy		Metaphysics
A.	Idealism	I.	The world is "characterised throughout by process and change"
B.	Realism	II.	The cosmos is made up of number of entities having various relations to one another and various qualities
C.	Naturalism	III.	A surrounding world which is spiritual
D.	Pragmatism	IV.	Nature in terms of process rather than either substance or structure