Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 58
तस्याः प्रोच्चारणार्थं च प्रवृत्तः स्वांशतस्ततः । असूयत महत्तत्त्वं त्रिगुणं तद्विदुर्बुधाः
tasyāḥ proccāraṇārthaṃ ca pravṛttaḥ svāṃśatastataḥ | asūyata mahattattvaṃ triguṇaṃ tadvidurbudhāḥ
Then, from His own portion, He set forth for the purpose of her articulation (manifest expression). From that arose the principle called Mahat—endowed with the three guṇas—as the wise declare.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced, Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative style)
Scene: A radiant sphere labeled ‘Mahat’ emerges from the divine essence, illuminating Prakṛti’s previously indistinct forms into clear outlines—like dawn revealing a landscape.
FAQs
Creation begins as a purposeful manifestation from the Divine, with Mahat (cosmic intelligence) arising as the first tri-guṇic principle.
No specific tīrtha is mentioned in this verse; the focus is philosophical cosmology within the Kaumārikākhaṇḍa.
None; the verse explains metaphysical origination rather than prescribing vrata, dāna, snāna, or japa.