Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 10
वेदयेद्यदिचात्मानं स एव परमेश्वरः । तदा विंदंति ब्रह्माद्याः स्वेच्छयैव न तं विदुः
vedayedyadicātmānaṃ sa eva parameśvaraḥ | tadā viṃdaṃti brahmādyāḥ svecchayaiva na taṃ viduḥ
যদি কেউ সত্যই আত্মাকে জানে, সেই-ই পরমেশ্বর। তখনই ব্রহ্মা প্রভৃতি দেবগণ সেই সত্য ‘লাভ’ করেন; কেবল স্বেচ্ছায় তাঁকে জানা যায় না।
Skanda (contextual)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra)
Type: kshetra
Listener: brāhmaṇa interlocutor (as addressed in nearby verses)
Scene: A contemplative seeker in Kāśī realizes the Self as Parameśvara; in the background, Brahmā and devas appear humbled, ‘finding’ the truth only after inner awakening.
FAQs
True realization is inward—knowing the Self reveals the Supreme; mere status or effort without realization does not grant knowledge of Him.
Kāśī is the doctrinal setting; the teaching supports Kāśī’s role as a place of liberation through knowledge and grace.
No external rite is stated; the prescription is ātma-vedana—inner realization.