Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 11
सचेतनं च पुरुषं प्रकृतिं च विचेतनाम् । प्राहुर्बुधा नराध्यक्ष पुंसश्चप्रकृतिः प्रिया
sacetanaṃ ca puruṣaṃ prakṛtiṃ ca vicetanām | prāhurbudhā narādhyakṣa puṃsaścaprakṛtiḥ priyā
বুদ্ধিমানগণ বলেন—পুরুষ চেতন, আর প্রকৃতি অচেতন। হে নরশ্রেষ্ঠ, তাঁরা আরও বলেন যে দেহধারীদের কাছে প্রকৃতি প্রিয়।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced; Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative frame)
Listener: Yudhiṣṭhira
Scene: A teacher-sage addresses a royal listener, illustrating the contrast between luminous Puruṣa (witness) and veiled Prakṛti (guṇas), with subtle iconography of light vs. matter.
FAQs
It teaches discrimination between consciousness (Puruṣa) and inert nature (Prakṛti), a foundation for overcoming bondage to delusion.
None in this verse; it is a doctrinal statement.
None; the focus is metaphysical distinction.