Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 47
अहमेष ममेदं च कार्यमीदृशकस्त्वहम् । इत्यादि चात्मविज्ञानमहंकार इति स्मृतः
ahameṣa mamedaṃ ca kāryamīdṛśakastvaham | ityādi cātmavijñānamahaṃkāra iti smṛtaḥ
“میں یہ ہوں؛ یہ میرا ہے؛ یہ کام کرنا ہے؛ میں ایسا ہی ہوں”—ایسی خود سے وابستہ سوچ کو ہی ‘اَہنکار’ (انا) کہا گیا ہے۔
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.