Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 80
तत्प्रत्याययितव्योसौ क्रमेणारण्यहस्तिवत् । वन्यो गजो गजारिर्वा क्रमेण मृदुतामियात्
tatpratyāyayitavyosau krameṇāraṇyahastivat | vanyo gajo gajārirvā krameṇa mṛdutāmiyāt
সেয়ে এই প্ৰাণক ক্ৰমে ক্ৰমে বশ কৰিব লাগে—অৰণ্যৰ বনৰীয়া হাতীৰ দৰে। বনৰীয়া গজ, বা হাতীৰ শত্রুও, ধীৰে ধীৰে মৃদু হয়।
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A symbolic scene: a wild elephant being gently trained with patience; intercut with a yogin calmly regulating breath—two panels showing the same principle of gradual control.
FAQs
Mastery of prāṇa requires patience and gradual training; force is counterproductive, while steady practice yields gentleness and control.
The verse belongs to the Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s Kāśī-centered discourse, though it uses a universal metaphor rather than naming a tīrtha.
A practical rule: regulate and ‘bring back’ prāṇa step-by-step (krameṇa), like taming a wild elephant.