Shloka 8
बलीन्द्रसंवादः — Kāla, Anityatā, and the Limits of Agency
Mahābhārata 12.217
उभौ नित्यावविचलौ महदृभ्यश्न महत्तरौ । सामान्यमेतदुभयोरेवं हान्यद्विशेषणम्
ubhāv nityāv avicalau mahadṛbhyaś ca mahattarau | sāmānyam etad ubhayor evaṁ hy anyad viśeṣaṇam ||
毗湿摩说：二者（自性与补卢沙）皆恒常不变、寂然不动，且各自大于一切所谓“伟大”者。这些德相为二者所共有；然而，使二者分判的差别却是另一回事，随后当加以阐明。
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.