Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 120
ये निंदंति महादेवं क्षेत्रं निंदंति येऽधियः । पुराणं ये च निंदंति ते संभाष्या न कुत्रचित्
ye niṃdaṃti mahādevaṃ kṣetraṃ niṃdaṃti ye'dhiyaḥ | purāṇaṃ ye ca niṃdaṃti te saṃbhāṣyā na kutracit
الذين يسبّون مهاديڤا، والذين يضلّ عقلُهم فيسبّون الكِشِترا المقدّسة (كاشي)، والذين يسبّون البورانا—فأمثالُ هؤلاء لا يُخاطَبون في أيّ مكان.
Skanda (deduced from Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue context)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Agastya / pilgrims of Kāśī (contextual)
Scene: A didactic scene in Kāśī: a sage instructs disciples to avoid conversing with blasphemers; in the background rise Viśvanātha’s spires and the Gaṅgā ghāṭas, symbolizing the sanctity being defended.
FAQs
Guard one’s speech and association: blasphemy of Śiva, Kāśī, and scripture is treated as a grave adharma to be avoided.
Kāśī-kṣetra (Vārāṇasī), revered as a supremely sacred field connected with Mahādeva.
No ritual is prescribed; the verse gives an ethical injunction about avoiding conversation/association with blasphemers.