Shloka 9
बलीन्द्रसंवादः — Kāla, Anityatā, and the Limits of Agency
Mahābhārata 12.217
प्रकृत्या सर्गधर्मिण्या तथा त्रिगुणधर्मया । विपरीतमतो विद्यात् क्षेत्रज्ञस्य स्वलक्षणम्
prakṛtyā sargadharmiṇyā tathā triguṇadharmayā | viparītam ato vidyāt kṣetrajñasya svalakṣaṇam ||
Bhīṣma dit : Puisque la loi innée de Prakṛti est de projeter la création, et puisqu’elle est constituée des trois guṇa, il faut comprendre que la marque essentielle du kṣetrajña (le connaisseur conscient) est l’exact opposé de Prakṛti—distinct de son activité changeante, liée aux guṇa.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Prakṛti is defined by creation and the three guṇas; the kṣetrajña (conscious knower) should be understood as essentially different—opposite in nature to guṇa-driven change. This discrimination supports inner freedom and steadiness.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīṣma continues a philosophical exposition (Sāṅkhya-like) distinguishing Prakṛti (nature) from the kṣetrajña (self), emphasizing their contrasting characteristics.