B.G 7.05

अपरेयमितस्त्वन्यां प्रकृतिं विद्धि मे पराम्। जीवभूतां महाबाहो ययेदं धार्यते जगत् ॥५॥

This (material nature) is inferior; but know that there is another, higher 'Prakrti' of Mine, O mighty-armed one, which constitutes the life force and by which this universe is sustained.

Gīta Bhāshya 7.05

The differentiation between Chit-Prakrti (conscious principle) and Achit-Prakrti (inert principle), the two different aspects of 'mahat' principle is brought out by substantiating the point made through a quote from Naradiya Purana.

अपरा अनुत्तमा, वक्ष्यमाणाम् अपेक्ष्य। जीवभूता श्रीः जीवानां प्राणधारिणी, चिद्रूपभूता सर्वदा सती।

The word 'aparā', i.e. inferior, means not the highest compared to what is going to be described further. The Goddess Shri is the sustainer of living beings, constituting the life force of all beings, is of the nature of consciousness, always existing and real.

"एतन्महद्भूतम्"

"This, (i.e. Mahat or Prakrti) is the greatest (mahat) of all conscious beings."

इति श्रुतेः।

-stated thus in the Vedic testimonial.

जगाद च -

And, regarding Her, it is said:

"प्रकृती द्वे तु देवस्य जडा चैवाजडा तथा। अव्यक्ताख्या जडा सा च सृष्ट्या भिन्नाष्टधा पुनः॥ महान् बुद्धिर्मनश्चैव पञ्च भूतानि चेति हि। अवरा सा जडा श्रीश्च परेयं धार्यते तया॥ चिद्रूपा सा त्वनन्ता च अनादिनिधना परा। यत्समं तु प्रियं किञ्चिन्नास्ति विष्णोर्महात्मनः॥ नारायणस्य महिषी माता सा ब्रह्मणोऽपि हि। आभ्यामिदं जगत् सर्वं हरिः सृजति भूतराट्॥"

"The nature of 'Prakrti' i.e. goddess Shri that belongs to the Lord, is indeed of two types, inert and non-inert (conscious). The unmanifest upon manifestation of the inert nature is again divided into eightfold through creation. They are indeed the great mahat, the intellect, mind, and the five elements. This inert nature is inferior ('aparā') in comparison to the superior goddess Shri and is sustained by her. She, however, is of the nature of consciousness, infinite, without beginning or end, and far superior. Nothing is as dear to the great soul lord Vishnu in comparison to her. She is the consort of Narayana and even the mother of Brahma. By these two (inert and non-inert prakrti, i.e. Shri), Lord Hari (Vishnu), the ruler of beings, creates the entire universe."

-इति नारदीये॥५॥

- stated thus in the Naradiya (Purana).