नारद–शुक संवादः
Impermanence, Svabhāva, and Śuka’s Resolve for Yoga
चलां तु प्रकृतिं प्राहु: कारणं क्षयसर्गयो: । आक्षेपसर्गयो: कर्ता निश्चल: पुरुष: स्मृत:
calāṃ tu prakṛtiṃ prāhuḥ kāraṇaṃ kṣaya-sargayoḥ | ākṣepa-sargayoḥ kartā niścalāḥ puruṣaḥ smṛtaḥ ||
ପ୍ରକୃତିକୁ ‘ଚଳା’ ବୋଲି କୁହାଯାଏ, କାରଣ ସୃଷ୍ଟି ଓ କ୍ଷୟ—ଦୁହିଁର କାରଣ ସେଇ। ଆକ୍ଷେପ ଓ ସର୍ଗ ବିଷୟରେ କର୍ତ୍ତା ପୁରୁଷ; ସେ ‘ନିଶ୍ଚଳ’ ବୋଲି ସ୍ମୃତ।
याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच
The verse distinguishes two principles: Prakṛti is changeful and serves as the causal ground for creation and dissolution, while Puruṣa is essentially unmoving/unchanging, associated with agency in manifestation without itself undergoing transformation.
In Śānti Parva’s philosophical instruction, Yājñavalkya explains a Sāṅkhya-style framework to clarify how cosmic processes (sṛṣṭi and pralaya) relate to the material principle (Prakṛti) and the conscious principle (Puruṣa).