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
बुद्धिमान कहते हैं कि पुरुष चेतन है और प्रकृति अचेतन। हे नरश्रेष्ठ, वे यह भी कहते हैं कि देहधारियों को प्रकृति प्रिय होती है।
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.