Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 58
विप्राणां ज्ञानतो ज्यैष्ठ्यं बाहुजानां तु वीर्यतः । वैश्यानां धान्यधनतः पज्जातानां तु जन्मतः
viprāṇāṃ jñānato jyaiṣṭhyaṃ bāhujānāṃ tu vīryataḥ | vaiśyānāṃ dhānyadhanataḥ pajjātānāṃ tu janmataḥ
ব্রাহ্মণদের মধ্যে জ্যেষ্ঠতা জ্ঞান দ্বারা, ক্ষত্রিয়দের মধ্যে বীর্য/পরাক্রম দ্বারা, বৈশ্যদের মধ্যে ধান্য ও ধন দ্বারা, আর নিম্নজাতদের মধ্যে কেবল জন্ম দ্বারা গণ্য হয়।
Skanda
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A symbolic tableau of four social groups: a brāhmaṇa teaching, a kṣatriya training with weapons, a vaiśya with granary/coins, and a laborer marked by lineage—arranged to show differing criteria of seniority.
FAQs
The verse frames social pre-eminence as tied to defining virtues—knowledge, valor, and prosperity—rather than uniform standards.
It is part of Kāśī Khaṇḍa’s dharma discourse, indirectly glorifying Kāśī as a place where dharma and right order are taught.
No direct ritual is prescribed; it presents a dharma-based criterion for seniority and status.