Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 33
अहंकारो यथा देवि पापपुण्यप्रदायकः । ज्ञाते तत्त्वे शुभफले कृतः संधाय नान्यथा
ahaṃkāro yathā devi pāpapuṇyapradāyakaḥ | jñāte tattve śubhaphale kṛtaḥ saṃdhāya nānyathā
اے دیوی، اَہنکار (انا) گناہ اور ثواب دونوں کا دینے والا بن جاتا ہے۔ مگر جب تَتْو کا علم ہو جائے اور مبارک پھل سمجھ میں آ جائے تو اسے درست طور پر جوڑ کر، صحیح سمت میں لگا دینا چاہیے—کسی اور طرح نہیں۔
Skanda (deduced; vocative ‘devi’ suggests instruction framed as divine dialogue)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Devī (addressed)
Scene: A Devī-facing teacher speaks to a seated sādhaka; a small figure labeled ‘ahaṃkāra’ stands at a crossroads holding two garlands—one dark (pāpa) and one bright (puṇya)—then is shown being yoked to a chariot of dharma heading toward a radiant truth-symbol.
FAQs
Ego drives karma; with right knowledge it must be disciplined and aligned toward auspicious ends, not allowed to wander.
No site is specified; the verse is a doctrinal teaching supporting the purifying aim of tīrtha-māhātmya.
No explicit ritual; the prescription is inner: know tattva and harness ahaṃkāra toward śubha (good).