---
title: "Samkhya Philosophy: Dualism, Purusha & Prakriti"
description: "Samkhya is a dualist astika school dividing reality into Purusha (consciousness) and Prakriti (matter). Key UPSC GS1 topic with 25 tattvas and the three gunas."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/samkhya-philosophy"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Samkhya is a dualistic Hindu philosophical system that explains reality through the interaction of two eternal principles, Purusha (consciousness) and Prakriti (primordial matter).
- How does Samkhya differ from Yoga philosophy?
- Why is Samkhya called a dualist system?
- What are the three gunas in Samkhya?
- Is Samkhya theistic, given that it accepts the Vedas?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

Samkhya is a dualistic Hindu philosophical system that explains reality through the interaction of two eternal principles, Purusha (consciousness) and Prakriti (primordial matter).

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Example

In the Bhagavad Gita (c. 2nd century BCE), Krishna deploys Samkhya's framework of the three gunas and the Purusha–Prakriti distinction to instruct Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

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