Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 80
तत्प्रत्याययितव्योसौ क्रमेणारण्यहस्तिवत् । वन्यो गजो गजारिर्वा क्रमेण मृदुतामियात्
tatpratyāyayitavyosau krameṇāraṇyahastivat | vanyo gajo gajārirvā krameṇa mṛdutāmiyāt
Karena itu, ia harus dijinakkan sedikit demi sedikit—laksana gajah liar di rimba. Seekor gajah liar, bahkan musuh gajah sekalipun, menjadi lembut hanya bertahap demi bertahap.
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A symbolic scene: a wild elephant being gently trained with patience; intercut with a yogin calmly regulating breath—two panels showing the same principle of gradual control.
FAQs
Mastery of prāṇa requires patience and gradual training; force is counterproductive, while steady practice yields gentleness and control.
The verse belongs to the Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s Kāśī-centered discourse, though it uses a universal metaphor rather than naming a tīrtha.
A practical rule: regulate and ‘bring back’ prāṇa step-by-step (krameṇa), like taming a wild elephant.