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 ||
ପ୍ରକୃତି ସର୍ଗଧର୍ମିଣୀ ଓ ତ୍ରିଗୁଣଧର୍ମୟୁକ୍ତ; ତେଣୁ କ୍ଷେତ୍ରଜ୍ଞ (ଚେତନ ଜ୍ଞାତା)ର ସ୍ୱଲକ୍ଷଣ ପ୍ରକୃତିଠାରୁ ସର୍ବଥା ବିପରୀତ—ତାହାଠାରୁ ଭିନ୍ନ—ବୋଲି ଜାଣିବା ଉଚିତ।
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.