Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 19
आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनां नित्यवैरिणा । तस्मादयं सदा त्याज्यः कामऽहिरिव सत्तमैः
āvṛtaṃ jñānametena jñānināṃ nityavairiṇā | tasmādayaṃ sadā tyājyaḥ kāma'hiriva sattamaiḥ
«Par ce désir—ennemi constant des sages—la connaissance se trouve voilée. C’est pourquoi les meilleurs des hommes doivent toujours rejeter Kāma, comme on rejette un serpent.»
Madana (Kāmadeva)
Scene: A sage-like figure points to a luminous ‘jñāna’ lamp being covered by a dark veil labeled kāma; beside it a coiled serpent symbolizes desire to be cast away.
FAQs
Desire obscures insight; the virtuous protect wisdom by abandoning craving as they would avoid a snake.
None; it is a universal ethical-spiritual teaching.
No external ritual; it prescribes inner renunciation and vigilance against kāma.