The Darshanas in the form of sūtras are short aphorisms, easy to remember, providing the essence of Vedic knowledge. They preserve the secrecy simultaneously with their cryptic form. They were created to preserve the six complementary views of reality advocated by the Vēdas. The Sankhya sūtras of sage Kapila provide inside-out metaphysics. Yōga sūtras of sage Patanjali provide the practices to be undertaken to realise the truth. The Nyaya sūtras of sage Gotama elaborate the logic and method to validate truth in an argument. The Vaisesika sūtras of sage Kanāda give outside-in metaphysics. The Mimamsa sūtras of sage Gemini throw light on epistemology and hermeneutics. The Vēdanta sūtras, also called Brahma sūtras of sage Badarayana explains the nature of ultimate reality, the Brahman.
Following is an attmpt to provide translations of these criptic Sūtras with modern commentary. In case of the Sankhya Darshana, the currently available Kapila sūtras are not considered authentic due to their long rendering and conflicting views. Hence we are better off refering to a short work by Īshwara Krishna of ~200 CE, which provides the Sankhya principles in whole, without getting into refutation of contadictory views.
