Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 27
अचेतनश्चेतनावान्मूर्खो विद्वानपि स्फुटम् । तदा भवति भूपाल पुरुषः क्षणमात्रतः
acetanaścetanāvānmūrkho vidvānapi sphuṭam | tadā bhavati bhūpāla puruṣaḥ kṣaṇamātrataḥ
ହେ ଭୂପାଳ! ତେବେ ପୁରୁଷ ମାତ୍ର କ୍ଷଣେ—ଚେତନ ହୋଇ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅଚେତ ପରି, ଏବଂ ବିଦ୍ୱାନ ହୋଇ ମଧ୍ୟ ସ୍ପଷ୍ଟ ଭାବେ ମୂର୍ଖ ପରି ହୁଏ।
Unspecified narrator (within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa discourse, likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa)
Listener: Bhūpāla (king)
Scene: A sudden transformation motif: a learned man with manuscripts and sacred thread is shown, and in the next instant his face becomes vacant and confused—time-slice storytelling before a king.
FAQs
Moral collapse can be sudden: temptation can overturn clarity, making the wise act like fools.
No tīrtha is mentioned; this is counsel on inner discipline.
None directly; the implied practice is vigilance and restraint (self-control).