Shloka 6
बलीन्द्रसंवादः — Kāla, Anityatā, and the Limits of Agency
Mahābhārata 12.217
तदेवमेतौ विज्ञेयावव्यक्तपुरुषावुभौ । अव्यक्तपुरुषाभ्यां तु यत् स्थादन्यन्महत्तरम्
tad evam etau vijñeyāv avyaktapuruṣāv ubhau | avyaktapuruṣābhyāṁ tu yat sthād anyan mahattaram ||
Maka demikianlah, kedua-duanya hendaklah difahami sebagai Yang Tidak Terserlah (Avyakta) dan Purusha (Diri/Insan), masing-masing menurut kedudukannya. Namun, melampaui Yang Tidak Terserlah dan Purusha, ada sesuatu yang lain dan lebih agung, yang berdiri lebih tinggi daripada kedua-duanya.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should distinguish the two fundamental principles often discussed in sāṅkhya-like analysis—the Unmanifest (avyakta) and the Person (puruṣa)—yet also acknowledge a reality that is distinct and greater than both, implying a transcendent highest principle as the ultimate orientation for liberation and right understanding.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues his philosophical exposition to Yudhiṣṭhira, classifying key metaphysical categories and then pointing beyond them to a supreme ‘greater’ principle, shaping the king’s understanding of dharma through deeper self-knowledge.