Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 26
मद एव मनुष्याणां शरीरस्थो महारिपुः । सदा स एव निग्राह्यः सुप्ते देवे विशेषतः
mada eva manuṣyāṇāṃ śarīrastho mahāripuḥ | sadā sa eva nigrāhyaḥ supte deve viśeṣataḥ
L’orgueil (mada) seul est le grand ennemi des humains, demeurant dans le corps. Il doit être constamment maîtrisé, tout particulièrement lorsque le Deva est « endormi » durant Cāturmāsya.
Skanda (deduced from Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya didactic context)
Scene: A warrior-like ascetic subdues a lion-shaped figure labeled ‘mada’ within a human silhouette; nearby, Viṣṇu rests on Śeṣa (Deva ‘asleep’) under monsoon clouds, indicating Cāturmāsya.
FAQs
Pride is a powerful inner enemy; restraining it is essential, with special vigilance during Cāturmāsya.
No specific tīrtha is named; the verse highlights sacred time (Cāturmāsya) rather than a sacred place.
A sustained restraint of pride as part of Cāturmāsya observance; ‘supte deve’ points to the traditional four-month vow season.