Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 23
चरणौ विचरेतांयौ विश्वभर्तृ पुरी भुवि । तावेव श्रवणौ श्रोतुं संविदा ते बहुश्रुतौ
caraṇau vicaretāṃyau viśvabhartṛ purī bhuvi | tāveva śravaṇau śrotuṃ saṃvidā te bahuśrutau
لا يستحقّ الثناء إلا تلك القدمان اللتان تجولان على الأرض في مدينة مُعيلِ الكون وحاميه؛ ولا يستحقّ السمع إلا تلك الأذنان—وهما حقًّا من أهل العلم—اللّتان تُصغيان بفهمٍ وإدراك.
Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa context: Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Viśvabhartṛ-purī)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A pilgrim walks through Kāśī’s lanes toward temples while simultaneously listening to a learned reciter explaining the kṣetra’s meaning; ears and feet are symbolically highlighted.
FAQs
True merit lies in using body and senses for dharma: walking the sacred city and hearing sacred teaching with understanding.
Kāśī, described as the earthly city of the universe’s sustainer (Śiva).
Implied disciplines: pilgrimage-walking in Kāśī and śravaṇa (listening) to sacred discourse with attentive comprehension.