Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 47
अहमेष ममेदं च कार्यमीदृशकस्त्वहम् । इत्यादि चात्मविज्ञानमहंकार इति स्मृतः
ahameṣa mamedaṃ ca kāryamīdṛśakastvaham | ityādi cātmavijñānamahaṃkāra iti smṛtaḥ
“Aku ini begini; ini milikku; pekerjaan ini mesti dilakukan; aku orang yang sedemikian”—segala tanggapan yang berpusat pada diri seperti itu diingati sebagai ego (ahaṃkāra).
Nandabhadra (contextual continuation; definitional statement within his inquiry)
Listener: Youthful teacher (Kaumāra/Skanda-figure)
Scene: A teacher points to four inscriptions or thought-bubbles—‘aham’, ‘mama’, ‘kāryam’, ‘īdṛśaḥ’—while a seeker watches the mind’s knots unravel; background shows a calm river/temple suggesting inner purification.
FAQs
Ego is the ‘I–mine’ construction that claims identity, ownership, and doership; recognizing it is the first step toward freedom.
No tīrtha is referenced; the verse gives a philosophical definition relevant to dharma and liberation.
None; it supports self-inquiry and discernment rather than an external rite.