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
«Ne méprise pas mon enfance. Même un jeune serpent est dangereux ; le soleil, bien que “jeune” à l’aurore, est difficile à fixer ; et même un petit feu brûle au toucher.»
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.