Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 72
शिशुत्वं मावमंस्था मे शिशुः कष्टो भुजंगमः । दुष्प्रेक्ष्यो भास्करो बालो दुःस्पर्शोऽल्पोऽपि पावकः
śiśutvaṃ māvamaṃsthā me śiśuḥ kaṣṭo bhujaṃgamaḥ | duṣprekṣyo bhāskaro bālo duḥsparśo'lpo'pi pāvakaḥ
“Do not despise my childhood. Even a young serpent is dangerous; the sun, though ‘young’ at dawn, is hard to gaze upon; and even a small fire is painful to touch.”
Skanda (Kumāra), Guru of yogins
Scene: Skanda, youthful yet blazing with tejas, delivers a stern teaching; behind him appear symbolic vignettes: a young serpent coiled, the rising sun dazzling, and a small flame burning bright.
FAQs
True potency is intrinsic, not dependent on age or appearance; dharma’s power can manifest in seemingly small forms.
No tīrtha is named; the verse teaches a universal dharmic principle through vivid examples.
None.