A listener asks how puruṣa can be called supreme when the concept of Ardhanarishvara itself shows equality between man and woman, consciousness and nature. The answer explains that both puruṣa (soul) and prakṛti (nature) are equally essential — neither can function without the other. The mistaken idea of male dominance arises from deep-rooted impressions over many births, but the fire of knowledge can dissolve them completely.