Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 89
काश्यां यो राजधान्यां मे हित्वा मामन्यमर्चयेत् । स वराकोल्पधीर्मुष्टोऽल्पतुष्टिर्मुक्तिवर्जितः
kāśyāṃ yo rājadhānyāṃ me hitvā māmanyamarcayet | sa varākolpadhīrmuṣṭo'lpatuṣṭirmuktivarjitaḥ
في كاشي، مدينتي الملكية، من يتركني ويعبد غيري فهو بائسٌ يُرثى له: قليلُ الفهم، شحيحٌ، يرضى بالقليل سريعًا، ومحرومٌ من الموكشا (التحرّر).
Śiva (Devadeva)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Śiva-rājadhānī)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A pilgrim in Kāśī turns away from a radiant Śiva shrine toward a lesser, glittering distraction; the scene carries a cautionary tone—small gains contrasted with the looming promise of liberation.
FAQs
Kāśī is portrayed as Śiva’s own domain; turning away from Śiva there is depicted as spiritual folly that obstructs liberation.
Kāśī, described as Śiva’s rājadhānī (royal city).
An implicit prescription of prioritizing Śiva-arcana in Kāśī rather than diverting worship away from Śiva within that sacred sphere.