Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 22
न सत्पथेनापि न योगयुक्त्या दानैर्नवा नैव तपोभिरुग्रैः । काशी द्विजाशीर्भिरहो सुलभ्या किंवा प्रसादेन च विश्वभर्तुः
na satpathenāpi na yogayuktyā dānairnavā naiva tapobhirugraiḥ | kāśī dvijāśīrbhiraho sulabhyā kiṃvā prasādena ca viśvabhartuḥ
সৎপথে, যোগসাধনায়, দানে বা তীব্র তপস্যায় কাশী এত সহজে লাভ হয় না; বরং দ্বিজদের আশীর্বাদে অথবা জগৎধারক প্রভুর কৃপা-প্রসাদে তা সুলভ হয়।
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue, typically Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī / Avimukta
Type: kshetra
Scene: A pilgrim burdened with ascetic implements (yoga, tapas, dāna) sets them down as a brāhmaṇa offers blessing; above, Śiva’s hand extends prasāda, and Kāśī’s ghāts and temple appear effortlessly near.
FAQs
Divine grace and saintly blessings can grant access to Kāśī’s liberating power beyond personal effort alone.
Kāśī (Avimukta/Vārāṇasī).
Charity (dāna) and austerity (tapas) are referenced, but the verse stresses grace and blessings rather than prescribing a specific rite.