Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 175
मच्चित्ता सा सदा मातर्मम सर्वार्थसाधनी । घ्राणं जिह्वा च चक्षुश्च त्वक्च श्रोत्रं च पंचमम्
maccittā sā sadā mātarmama sarvārthasādhanī | ghrāṇaṃ jihvā ca cakṣuśca tvakca śrotraṃ ca paṃcamam
Ô Mère, elle demeure sans cesse tournée vers moi et accomplit pour moi tous les desseins. Pourtant, le nez, la langue, les yeux, la peau et l’oreille comme cinquième : tels sont les instruments à l’œuvre.
A spiritually realized son (speaker not named in the snippet; Kaumārikākhaṇḍa narrative context)
Scene: A maternal Prakṛti figure standing behind a serene sage; five symbolic sense-icons (nose, tongue, eye, skin, ear) appear as attendants/tools, indicating they work for the higher purpose when directed.
FAQs
Even when worldly life functions through the senses, spiritual life requires awareness of these instruments and non-identification with them.
No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse is a teaching on senses and disciplined living.
No explicit ritual is stated; the implied practice is indriya-nigraha (restraint of the senses).