Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 120
ब्रह्मज्ञानं न विंदंति योगैरेकेन जन्मना । जन्मनैकेन मुच्यंते काश्यामंतकृतो जनाः
brahmajñānaṃ na viṃdaṃti yogairekena janmanā | janmanaikena mucyaṃte kāśyāmaṃtakṛto janāḥ
حتى بالرياضات اليوغية لا ينال الناسُ معرفةَ البراهمان في حياةٍ واحدة؛ أمّا الذين يأتيهم الأجلُ في كاشي (كاشي) فيتحرّرون في تلك الحياة عينها.
Skanda (deduced for Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue context)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Devotees/ṛṣis (contextual)
Scene: A pilgrim at the edge of life in Kāśī, with Viśveśvara’s presence implied; Gaṅgā flowing beside cremation ghāṭs, the soul rising toward light as yogins look on in wonder.
FAQs
Kāśī is praised as a mokṣa-kṣetra where liberation can be attained swiftly, surpassing what may take many lifetimes of yoga.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), celebrated as a place where even the moment of death becomes spiritually decisive.
No specific rite is prescribed here; the emphasis is on the sanctity of Kāśī and the salvific power of one’s final moment there.