Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 71
किमिदं नैव जानासि यावत्यः परुषा गिरः । परः संश्राव्यते तावच्छंकवः श्रोत्रतः पुनरा
kimidaṃ naiva jānāsi yāvatyaḥ paruṣā giraḥ | paraḥ saṃśrāvyate tāvacchaṃkavaḥ śrotrataḥ punarā
Tidakkah engkau mengerti: sebanyak mana kata-kata kasar yang engkau buat orang lain dengar, sebanyak itulah duri tajam ditusukkan ke telinga, berulang-ulang kali.
Saṃvarta (contextual; Kaumārikākhaṇḍa narrative dialogue)
Scene: Metaphorical visualization: spoken harsh words manifest as sharp spikes entering ears; the admonisher gestures toward the ear, illustrating invisible injury becoming visible.
FAQs
Harsh speech is a form of violence; every cruel word wounds the listener and binds the speaker to demerit.
No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it teaches general Puranic dharma about speech.
No rite is prescribed here; the instruction is ethical—practice restraint and gentleness in speech.