Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 28
स्निह्येदुद्धृतसारोपि वह्नेः संस्पर्शमाप्य वै । चित्रं स्त्र्याख्या समादानात्पुमान्स्निह्यति दूरतः
snihyeduddhṛtasāropi vahneḥ saṃsparśamāpya vai | citraṃ stryākhyā samādānātpumānsnihyati dūrataḥ
“مکھن اگرچہ نچوڑ کر خالص کیا گیا ہو، پھر بھی آگ کے لمس سے پگھل جاتا ہے۔ مگر یہ عجیب ہے کہ صرف ‘عورت’ کے نام اور خیال کو تھام لینے سے مرد کا دل دور ہی سے پگھل جاتا ہے۔”
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).