Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 90
अर्थहीना यथा वाणी धर्महीना यथा तनुः । पतिहीना यथा नारी शिवहीना तथा क्रिया
arthahīnā yathā vāṇī dharmahīnā yathā tanuḥ | patihīnā yathā nārī śivahīnā tathā kriyā
كما أنّ الكلامَ بلا معنى لا قيمةَ له، وكما أنّ الجسدَ بلا دارما جسدٌ خاوٍ، وكما أنّ المرأةَ بلا زوجٍ مُفتقِدةٌ للسند؛ كذلك كلُّ شعيرةٍ بلا شيفا تكونُ محرومةً من روحها.
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa context, typically Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Scene: A triad of symbolic vignettes: (1) a speaker whose words lack meaning, (2) a body without dharma shown as lifeless/aimless, (3) a rite performed mechanically—then contrasted with a radiant Śiva-liṅga that gives ‘life’ to the rite. Kāśī shrines and ghāṭs frame the scene.
FAQs
Ritual and action gain true value only when rooted in devotion to Śiva and dharmic intention.
Kāśī is the implied sacred center where Śiva’s presence (Viśveśvara) validates all religious action.
An overarching rule: never perform kriyā as merely mechanical—ensure it is Śiva-centered.