Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 72
पुनरत्रैव निवसञ्ज्ञानं प्राप्स्यत्यनुत्तमम् । तेन ज्ञानेथ संप्राप्ते मोक्षमाप्स्यत्यनुत्तमम्
punaratraiva nivasañjñānaṃ prāpsyatyanuttamam | tena jñānetha saṃprāpte mokṣamāpsyatyanuttamam
পরে আবার এখানেই বাস করে সে অনুত্তম জ্ঞান লাভ করে; আর সেই জ্ঞান প্রাপ্ত হলে সে অনুত্তম মোক্ষ অর্জন করে।
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda speaking to Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī/Avimukta-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: dvijas/pilgrims
Scene: A redeemed being returning to Kāśī: seated near the Gaṅgā at dawn, receiving instruction (upadeśa) from a serene ascetic/Śiva-symbolic presence; a subtle light rising from the heart signifying ‘anuttama jñāna’, culminating in a luminous release (mokṣa).
FAQs
Kāśī ultimately leads the soul toward jñāna and mokṣa; even after suffering, return to the kṣetra can culminate in liberation.
Kāśī/Vārāṇasī, praised as a mokṣa-bestowing sacred field.
No specific ritual; the implied discipline is continued residence/devotion in Kāśī leading to spiritual knowledge.