Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 33
अहंकारो यथा देवि पापपुण्यप्रदायकः । ज्ञाते तत्त्वे शुभफले कृतः संधाय नान्यथा
ahaṃkāro yathā devi pāpapuṇyapradāyakaḥ | jñāte tattve śubhaphale kṛtaḥ saṃdhāya nānyathā
হে দেবি, অহংকাৰ পাপ-পুণ্য দুয়োটাৰ দাতা হয়। কিন্তু তত্ত্ব জ্ঞাত হ’লে আৰু মঙ্গলফল বুজা হ’লে, তাক যথাৰ্থভাৱে সংযোজিত কৰি (সঠিক দিশে নিয়োজিত কৰি) ৰাখিব লাগে—অন্যথা নহয়।
Skanda (deduced; vocative ‘devi’ suggests instruction framed as divine dialogue)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Devī (addressed)
Scene: A Devī-facing teacher speaks to a seated sādhaka; a small figure labeled ‘ahaṃkāra’ stands at a crossroads holding two garlands—one dark (pāpa) and one bright (puṇya)—then is shown being yoked to a chariot of dharma heading toward a radiant truth-symbol.
FAQs
Ego drives karma; with right knowledge it must be disciplined and aligned toward auspicious ends, not allowed to wander.
No site is specified; the verse is a doctrinal teaching supporting the purifying aim of tīrtha-māhātmya.
No explicit ritual; the prescription is inner: know tattva and harness ahaṃkāra toward śubha (good).