Śukasya Janma-yoga-phalaṁ — Vyāsasya Tapasā Putrārthaḥ (Śānti-parva 310)
अहडूकाराच्च सम्भूतं मनो भूतगुणात्मकम् | तृतीय: सर्ग इत्येष आहड्कारिक उच्यते,अहंकारसे मन उत्पन्न हुआ है, जो पञ्चभूत और शब्दादि गुणस्वरूप है। इसे तीसरा और आहंकारिक सर्ग कहा जाता है
ahaṅkārāc ca sambhūtaṃ mano bhūta-guṇātmakam | tṛtīyaḥ sarga ity eṣa āhaṅkārika ucyate ||
Yājñavalkya berkata: “Daripada ahaṅkāra lahirlah manas, yakni minda, yang tersusun daripada unsur-unsur dan sifat-sifatnya. Inilah yang disebut sebagai penciptaan ketiga, dikenali sebagai penciptaan ‘ahaṅkāric’—menunjukkan bahawa pengenalan diri sebagai ‘aku’ menjadi punca gerak minda dan, dengan itu, punca ikatan serta pergulatan etika.”
याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच
The verse teaches a causal sequence in inner and cosmic evolution: from ahaṅkāra (ego-sense) arises manas (mind), which operates through the framework of elements and their qualities. Ethically, it implies that misidentification (‘I’ and ‘mine’) generates mental agitation and attachment; reducing ego-sense is therefore central to self-mastery and liberation.
In Śānti Parva’s philosophical instruction, Yājñavalkya explains stages of creation/manifestation. Here he identifies the mind as a product of ahaṅkāra and labels this as the third, ‘ahaṅkāric’ creation—part of a systematic account of how the inner instruments arise and condition experience.