The present paper offers a discussion and an analysis of the notion of satkārya, taking into consideration both the specific way in which Īśvarakṛṣṇa articulates his thought and some problems regarding the interpretation of the so-called satkāryavāda. We show, firstly, that the reflection on causation in ancient Indian philosophy is deliberate, conscious, explicit, systematic and nuanced. We also discuss some of the problems entailed in the most usual way of understanding Classical Sāṃkhya’s theory of causation, which sees prakṛti as an entity and as a material cause. Secondly, upon the analysis of the text, we suggest that the notion of satkārya implies two correlative theses. One thesis is that products or effects, that is, the tattva-s evolved from prakṛti, belong to the sphere of (eternal) being. The other one is that relations of cause and effect are real. Finally, we show that Īśvarakṛṣṇa employs derivatives of the verbal root KṚ to categorize the inner dynamics of being, in order to explain caused change without contradicting the main ontological principle of the mutual exclusion between being and non-being. Consequently, we propose that Īśvarakṛṣṇa’s conception of causation can be understood as a grammar of being, since it seeks to explain the process and rules of derivation and change imitating the method of classical Sanskrit grammar.