Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 36
लोहदंडधरं कृष्णं पुरुषं कृष्णवाससम् । स्वयं योग्रे स्थितं पश्येत्स त्रीन्मासान्न लंघयेत्
lohadaṃḍadharaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ puruṣaṃ kṛṣṇavāsasam | svayaṃ yogre sthitaṃ paśyetsa trīnmāsānna laṃghayet
إذا رأى المرء في المنام رجلًا أسود اللون لابسًا السواد، يحمل عصًا من حديد، قائمًا عند النير كأنه مستعد للقبض عليه، فلن يتجاوز ثلاثة أشهر؛ فذلك يدل على الموت خلال ثلاثة أشهر.
Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda speaking to Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Listener: Kāśī-mahātmya hearer (pilgrimage-seeker)
Scene: In a dream, a black-clad dark figure grips an iron staff and stands by a yoke/pole as if to seize the dreamer—an icon of Yama’s summons—contrasted with a faint protective glow of Śiva’s liṅga in the distance.
FAQs
When death’s signs appear, the wise intensify yoga, japa, and reliance on Śiva—especially through the saving grace associated with Kāśī.
The adhyāya’s thrust is toward Kāśī and Viśveśvara, presented as the supreme shelter when Yama’s approach is sensed.
No explicit rite is named here; it is an omen-verse that supports the later counsel to practice yoga and take refuge in Kāśī/Viśveśvara.