Shloka 8
बलीन्द्रसंवादः — Kāla, Anityatā, and the Limits of Agency
Mahābhārata 12.217
उभौ नित्यावविचलौ महदृभ्यश्न महत्तरौ । सामान्यमेतदुभयोरेवं हान्यद्विशेषणम्,ये प्रकृति और पुरुष (जीवात्मा) दोनों ही अनादि और अनन्त हैंः। दोनों ही अलिंग निराकार हैं तथा दोनों ही नित्य, अविचल और महानसे भी महान हैं। ये सब बातें इन दोनोंमें समानरूपसे पायी जाती हैं; परंतु इनमें जो अन्तर या वैलक्षण्य है, वह दूसरा ही है, जिसे बताया जाता है
ubhāv nityāv avicalau mahadṛbhyaś ca mahattarau | sāmānyam etad ubhayor evaṁ hy anyad viśeṣaṇam ||
Wika ni Bhishma: Kapwa walang hanggan at di-nagagalaw ang dalawa (Prakriti at Purusha), at bawat isa’y higit pa sa dakila. Ang mga katangiang ito’y kapwa taglay nila; ngunit ang pagkakaibang nagtatangi sa kanila ay ibang bagay, na ipaliliwanag pa.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma states that Prakriti (nature) and Purusha (conscious self) share several exalted attributes—eternality, immovability, and greatness—so one should not mistake these shared traits as the true basis of distinction; the real differentiating feature lies elsewhere and must be understood to discern their roles in bondage and liberation.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and higher knowledge, Bhishma continues his philosophical teaching, setting up a comparison between Prakriti and Purusha: first listing what is common to both, and then preparing the listener for the crucial point of difference that will be explained in the subsequent discussion.