Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 18
अहं कर्ता हि लोकानां यज्ञो नारायणः परः । न मामनादृत्य विधे जीवनं जगतामज
ahaṃ kartā hi lokānāṃ yajño nārāyaṇaḥ paraḥ | na māmanādṛtya vidhe jīvanaṃ jagatāmaja
আমি লোকসমূহের কর্তা; যজ্ঞস্বরূপ পরম নারায়ণই সর্বোচ্চ। হে বিধাতা, হে অজ—আমাকে অমান্য করে জগতের জীবনও স্থির থাকতে পারে না।
Kratu (asserting Nārāyaṇa as the supreme sacrificial principle)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka and ṛṣis
Scene: A creator-like deity speaks with firm gesture; behind him a symbolic yajña-kuṇḍa flame rises, within which a subtle Nārāyaṇa form is suggested—indicating yajña as divine body.
FAQs
The divine is identified with yajña (sacrifice) and cosmic sustenance; honoring the supreme principle is portrayed as essential for the world’s life.
No individual tīrtha is mentioned; the verse functions within Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s theological narration.
Implicitly elevates yajña as sacred, but no concrete ritual steps (time, place, offering) are specified in this line.