Shloka 19
Śraddhā–Guṇa–Vibhāga Yoga (Faith and the Three Guṇas) — Mahābhārata Book 6, Chapter 39
सम्बन्ध--इस अध्यायके तीसरे शलोकमें भगवानने क्षेत्रके विषयमें चार बातें और क्षेत्रञके विषयमें दो बातें संक्षेपें सुननेके लिये अर्जुनसे कहा था, फिर विषय आरम्भ करते ही क्षेत्रके स््व्छपका और उसके विकारोंका वर्णन करनेके अनन्तर क्षेत्र और क्षेत्रज्ञके तत्वको भलीभाँति जाननेके उपायभूत साधनोंका और जाननेके योग्य परमात्माके स्वरूपका वर्णन प्रयसंगवश किया गया। इससे क्षेत्रके विषयमें उसके स्वभावका और किस कारणसे कौन कार्य उत्पन्न होता है; इस विषयका तथा प्रभावसहित क्षेत्रज्के स््वरूपका भी वर्णन नहीं हुआ। अतः: अब उन सबका वर्णन करनेके लिये भगवान् पुनः प्रकृति और पुरुषके नागसे प्रकरण आरम्भ करते हैं-- प्रकृतिं पुरुषं चैव विद्धयनादी उभावपि । विकारांश्व गुणांश्वैव* विद्धि प्रकृतिसम्भवान्
prakṛtiṁ puruṣaṁ caiva viddhy anādī ubhāv api | vikārāṁś ca guṇāṁś caiva viddhi prakṛti-sambhavān ||
Arjuna said: Know that both Prakriti (material nature) and Purusha (the conscious principle) are beginningless. And know also that all modifications and the three qualities (gunas) arise from Prakriti. In the ethical frame of the Gita’s teaching, this distinction clarifies what belongs to changing nature versus what pertains to the witnessing self—guiding one toward responsibility without confusion, and toward liberation without escapism.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Prakriti (nature) and Purusha (consciousness) are both beginningless, but all changes—both the modifications of experience and the binding qualities (gunas)—belong to Prakriti. This helps one distinguish the changing from the changeless and orient action and responsibility without mistaking the Self for nature’s fluctuations.
Arjuna is in dialogue with Krishna on the battlefield setting of the Mahabharata. Here the teaching turns to a structured explanation of the ‘field’ (kṣetra) and the ‘knower of the field’ (kṣetrajña), introducing Prakriti and Purusha to clarify how experience arises and how liberation is approached through right understanding.