Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 57
क्षणमप्येकमुदकं यथा न स्थिरतामियात् । वाताहतं यथा चित्तं तस्मात्तस्य न विश्वसेत्
kṣaṇamapyekamudakaṃ yathā na sthiratāmiyāt | vātāhataṃ yathā cittaṃ tasmāttasya na viśvaset
De même que l’eau, fût-ce un instant, ne demeure pas immobile, ainsi l’esprit, frappé par les vents des impulsions, chancelle. C’est pourquoi il ne faut pas s’y fier tel qu’il est.
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Gaṅgā in Kāśī
Type: ghat
Listener: pilgrim-seekers/ṛṣis (contextual)
Scene: Close view of rippling water on the Ganga; above it, a translucent overlay of a human mind-symbol (fluttering banner or leaf) tossed by gusts, illustrating citta’s instability; an ascetic watches with discernment.
FAQs
The mind is inherently unstable; spiritual life requires disciplined stabilization rather than blind reliance on mental impulses.
In the Kāśīkhaṇḍa setting, Kāśī is the sacred ground where such yogic discernment and mind-training are taught for mokṣa.
No external ritual is stated; the practical instruction is to recognize mental instability and undertake control/training.