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
Ô Déesse, le sens de l’ego (ahaṃkāra) devient dispensateur de péché et de mérite. Mais lorsque le principe véritable est connu et que le fruit heureux est compris, il doit être « joint » et dirigé avec justesse — jamais autrement.
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).