Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 71
पिष क्षीरं गृहाणेमं कंदुकं क्रीड लीलया । एवमुक्तः प्रहस्याह तारकं योगिनां गुरुः
piṣa kṣīraṃ gṛhāṇemaṃ kaṃdukaṃ krīḍa līlayā | evamuktaḥ prahasyāha tārakaṃ yogināṃ guruḥ
क्षीरं पिष, इमं कन्दुकं गृहाण, लीलया क्रीड। इत्युक्तः प्रहस्य योगिनां गुरुः तारकं प्रत्युवाच।
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating; quoted speech is Tāraka’s taunt, followed by Skanda’s response setup
Scene: Tāraka speaks condescendingly, offering domestic/childish tasks; Skanda, radiant and youthful, laughs—his laughter itself a weapon of confidence—before replying.
FAQs
The realized one remains unshaken by insult; spiritual mastery answers arrogance with composure and clarity.
None; the verse highlights Skanda’s yogic stature within the battle narrative.
None; the references to milk and play are rhetorical taunts, not ritual instructions.