Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 91
प्रयागस्नानपुण्येन यत्पुण्यं स्याच्छिवप्रदम् । काशीदर्शनमात्रेण तत्पुण्यं श्रद्धयास्त्विह
prayāgasnānapuṇyena yatpuṇyaṃ syācchivapradam | kāśīdarśanamātreṇa tatpuṇyaṃ śraddhayāstviha
إنَّ الثوابَ الناشئَ من الاغتسالِ في براياگا، المُفضي إلى نِعمةِ شيفا—ذلك الثوابُ بعينه يُنالُ هنا، بالإيمان، بمجردِ رؤيةِ كاشي.
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda speaking to Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī (darśana-māhātmya)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A pilgrim arrives at Kāśī and beholds the city from a ghat—hands folded, eyes moist with devotion; the Gaṅgā glows, temple spires rise, and an inner vision of Śiva’s blessing is suggested as a radiant presence above.
FAQs
Kāśī is so sanctifying that even a faithful glimpse is equated with major tīrtha rites elsewhere.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) is praised, in comparison to Prayāga’s celebrated bathing merit.
Kāśī-darśana (pilgrimage sight/visit) performed with śraddhā; Prayāga-snāna is referenced as the comparator.