Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 42
अहंकारश्च महता तं चापि प्रकृतिः परा । दशोत्तराणि सर्वाणि षडाहुः सप्तमं च तत्
ahaṃkāraśca mahatā taṃ cāpi prakṛtiḥ parā | daśottarāṇi sarvāṇi ṣaḍāhuḥ saptamaṃ ca tat
अहंकारो महता आवृतः; महत् पुनः परया प्रकृत्या आवृतम्। एतानि सर्वाणि दशोत्तर-परिमाणानि; षडावरणानि इति केचिद् आहुः, सा प्रकृतिः सप्तमं च।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages
Listener: Pārtha (Arjuna)
Scene: A contemplative diagram-like scene: concentric subtle spheres labeled (ahaṃkāra inside mahat inside prakṛti), with a meditating sage/warrior-listener at the edge; prakṛti shown as a vast dark-gold matrix, mahat as luminous intellect, ahaṃkāra as a small bright knot.
FAQs
Beyond gross elements lie subtler principles (ahaṃkāra, mahat, prakṛti); liberation implies transcending these layers through right knowledge and devotion.
None; this verse is metaphysical/cosmological.
None.