Muni's Play5 Faults and 8 Antidotes (Pañca-doṣa and Aṣṭa-saṃskāra)
According to the Madhyanta Vibhaga Karika (Chapter 4, Verses 4–6), there are five faults that obstruct meditation and eight remedial mental formations (antidotes) used to overcome them.
The 5 Faults and 8 Antidotes
This table maps each fault to its corresponding antidote(s) and explains the underlying logic or scriptural basis.
| # | Fault (Doṣa) | Antidote (Saṃskāra) | Textual Basis / Logic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | कौसीद्य (Kausīdya) Laziness | 1. श्रद्धा (Śraddhā / Faith) 2. छन्द (Chanda / Desire) 3. व्यायाम (Vyāyāma / Effort) 4. प्रश्रब्धि (Praśrabdhi / Pliancy) | Verse 5: A causal chain to root out laziness. Faith is the basis (āśraya), Desire is the dependent (āśrita), Effort is the cause (nimitta), and Pliancy is the result (phala). |
| 2 | अववादसम्मोष (Avavāda-sammoṣa) Forgetting Instruction | 5. स्मृति (Smṛti) Mindfulness | Verse 5: Defined as non-forgetting the focal object (ālambane ‘sammoṣa). It anchors the mind to the teaching. |
| 3 | लय-उद्धव (Laya-uddhava) Laxity-Excitement | 6. सम्प्रजन्य (Samprajanya) Alertness | Verse 5: Defined as awareness of laxity and excitement (layau-ddhatyānu-budhyanā). It monitors the quality of focus. |
| 4 | असंस्कार (Asaṃskāra) Non-application | 7. चेतना (Cetanā) Volition | Verse 6: Defined as the mental application for their removal (tad-apāyābhi-saṃskāra). It is the act of intervening. |
| 5 | संस्कार (Saṃskāra) Over-application | 8. उपेक्षा (Upekṣā) Equanimity | Verse 6: Defined as calmly letting the mind flow (praśatha-vāhitā) once the obstacles are stilled (śāntau). It prevents over-exertion. |
Scriptural Reference
These verses are extracted from Chapter 4 - Investigation of Cultivation, Stages and Fruits.
Verse 4
Sanskrit Text
कौसीद्यमववादस्य सम्मोषो लय उद्धवः।
असंस्कारोऽथ संस्कारः पञ्च दोषा इमे मताः
Transliteration
kausīdyamavavādasya sammoṣo laya uddhavaḥ
asaṃskāro’tha saṃskāraḥ pañca doṣā ime matāḥ
Translation
These five are considered the faults (doṣa): laziness (kausīdya), forgetting the instruction (avavāda-sammoṣa), lethargy (laya), excitation (uddhava), non-application (asaṃskāra) (when needed), and (over-)application (saṃskāra) (when not needed).
Verse 5
Sanskrit Text
आश्रयोऽथाश्रितस्तस्य निमित्तं फलमेव च।
आलम्बनेऽसम्मोषो लयौद्धत्यानुबुद्ध्यना
Transliteration
āśrayo’thāśritastasya nimittaṃ phalameva ca
ālambane’sammoṣo layauddhatyānubuddhyanā
Translation
The basis (āśraya), that which is based on it, its cause (nimitta), and its fruit (phala) (form the first four). Then, non-forgetfulness regarding the object (ālambana-asammoṣa), and the recognition of lethargy and excitement (laya-uddhatya-anubuddhyanā).
Verse 6
Sanskrit Text
तदपायाऽभिसंस्कारः शान्तौ प्रशठवाहिता।
रोपिते मोक्षभागीये च्छन्दयोगाधिपत्यतः
Transliteration
tadapāyā’bhisaṃskāraḥ śāntau praśathavāhitā
ropite mokṣabhāgīye cchandayogādhipatyataḥ
Translation
The mental effort to remove those (faults) (tadapāyā-abhisaṃskāra), and the state of equanimity (praśathavāhitā) when they are calmed. When the factors conducive to liberation (mokṣabhāgīya) are planted, it is through the power of aspiration (cchanda), application, and mastery.