Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 74
वज्रस्य दिग्धशस्त्रस्य कालकूटस्य चाप्युत । समेन वचसा तुल्यं मृत्योरिति ममाभवत्
vajrasya digdhaśastrasya kālakūṭasya cāpyuta | samena vacasā tulyaṃ mṛtyoriti mamābhavat
Đối với tôi, cái chết dường như không khác gì một lời nói khéo léo — như tiếng sét, như vũ khí tẩm độc, như chất độc Kalakuta chết người.
Saṃvarta (contextual; Kaumārikākhaṇḍa narrative dialogue)
Scene: A speaker with honeyed lips offers words that visually transform into a thunderbolt, a poisoned blade, and a dark-blue Kālakūṭa cloud; the listener recoils as if facing Death personified behind the speech.
FAQs
Not only harsh words but also deceptively pleasant speech can be lethal when used to harm or mislead.
No tīrtha is referenced; the verse is an ethical metaphor about speech and deception.
None; the implied practice is satya (truthfulness) and non-manipulative speech.