Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 146
कार्यारंभं समाप्तिं च वचः प्रोच्य तथा प्रियम् । पिबञ्जिघ्रन्स्पृशञ्छृण्वन्विवक्षुर्मैथुनं तथा
kāryāraṃbhaṃ samāptiṃ ca vacaḥ procya tathā priyam | pibañjighranspṛśañchṛṇvanvivakṣurmaithunaṃ tathā
Beginning a task and bringing it to completion; speaking words, even pleasing ones; drinking, smelling, touching, hearing, the impulse to speak, and also sexual union—these too are to be restrained and governed within the Māheśvara discipline.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Scene: A Śaiva sādhaka seated in a simple āśrama setting, surrounded by symbolic representations of the senses (ear, tongue, hand, nose, eye) being ‘reined in’ like horses; a calm liṅga or Sthāṇu form of Śiva presides, indicating discipline over daily acts—speech, drinking, touching, hearing, and sexual restraint.
FAQs
True observance includes mastery over the senses and speech, not merely external ritual.
No sacred site is referenced; the focus is ethical and ascetic regulation.
It prescribes restraint over sense-activities (drinking, touching, etc.) and sexual conduct as part of vrata discipline.