Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 28
स्निह्येदुद्धृतसारोपि वह्नेः संस्पर्शमाप्य वै । चित्रं स्त्र्याख्या समादानात्पुमान्स्निह्यति दूरतः
snihyeduddhṛtasāropi vahneḥ saṃsparśamāpya vai | citraṃ stryākhyā samādānātpumānsnihyati dūrataḥ
“Bahkan mentega yang telah diambil sarinya pun meleleh saat bersentuhan dengan api. Namun sungguh ajaib: hanya dengan mengangkat nama dan bayang ‘perempuan’, hati seorang lelaki meleleh dari kejauhan.”
Muni (sage) speaking (didactic metaphor)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka and ṛṣis (frame implied)
Scene: A small flame touches a golden lump of butter which begins to drip; in parallel, a distant silhouette of a woman’s name-form (akṣara/saṃjñā) sends waves that soften a man’s heart.
FAQs
Desire can arise even from mere imagination; therefore guarding the mind is essential for dharma and tapas.
No particular tīrtha is mentioned in this verse; it supports the Kāśī Khaṇḍa’s broader moral instruction.
None explicitly; the implied discipline is mental restraint and vigilance (saṃyama).