Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 43
ततः शिवस्तं तपसातिखिन्नं निवार्य ताभ्यः प्रणतिभ्य ईश्वरः । वरान्ददौ सप्ततुरंगसूनवे त्वं धर्मराजो भव नामतोपि
tataḥ śivastaṃ tapasātikhinnaṃ nivārya tābhyaḥ praṇatibhya īśvaraḥ | varāndadau saptaturaṃgasūnave tvaṃ dharmarājo bhava nāmatopi
তখন ঈশ্বর শিব তপস্যায় অতিশয় ক্লান্ত তাকে নিবৃত্ত করে, সেই প্রণতিতে প্রসন্ন হয়ে, সপ্ততুরঙ্গ (সূর্য)-পুত্রকে বর দিলেন—“তুমি ধর্মরাজ হও; নামেও তাই পরিচিত হও।”
Skanda (narrating); direct speech by Śiva within the verse
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Śiva, compassionate yet majestic, raises the exhausted ascetic-devotee, halting his harsh tapas, and bestows a boon—appointing him as Dharmarāja.
FAQs
Austerity becomes fruitful when tempered by devotion and surrender; divine grace can transform a seeker into a cosmic steward of dharma.
The Kāśīkhaṇḍa setting continues, but the verse centers on Śiva’s boon and cosmic appointment rather than a particular Kāśī tīrtha.
No new prescription; it highlights tapas and repeated praṇāma as devotion that draws Śiva’s boon.