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 ||
प्रकृति का स्वभाव सृष्टि-प्रवृत्ति है और वह त्रिगुणमयी है; इसलिए क्षेत्रज्ञ (चेतन ज्ञाता) का स्वलक्षण प्रकृति से सर्वथा विपरीत—उससे भिन्न—जानना चाहिए।
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.