Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 80
तत्प्रत्याययितव्योसौ क्रमेणारण्यहस्तिवत् । वन्यो गजो गजारिर्वा क्रमेण मृदुतामियात्
tatpratyāyayitavyosau krameṇāraṇyahastivat | vanyo gajo gajārirvā krameṇa mṛdutāmiyāt
Vì thế phải điều phục nó dần dần—như thuần hóa voi rừng. Voi hoang, thậm chí kẻ thù của voi, cũng chỉ trở nên hiền hòa theo từng bước.
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A symbolic scene: a wild elephant being gently trained with patience; intercut with a yogin calmly regulating breath—two panels showing the same principle of gradual control.
FAQs
Mastery of prāṇa requires patience and gradual training; force is counterproductive, while steady practice yields gentleness and control.
The verse belongs to the Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s Kāśī-centered discourse, though it uses a universal metaphor rather than naming a tīrtha.
A practical rule: regulate and ‘bring back’ prāṇa step-by-step (krameṇa), like taming a wild elephant.