Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 20
अविमुक्ते महाक्षेत्रे क्षेमं त्र्यक्षेण रक्षिते । यत्र क्षीणायुषां साक्षाद्विरूपाक्षोऽस्ति मोक्षदः
avimukte mahākṣetre kṣemaṃ tryakṣeṇa rakṣite | yatra kṣīṇāyuṣāṃ sākṣādvirūpākṣo'sti mokṣadaḥ
In Avimukta, dem großen heiligen Kṣetra, das unter dem Schutz des Dreiäugigen Herrn in Sicherheit bewahrt wird, ist für jene, deren Lebensspanne schwindet, Virūpākṣa (Śiva) leibhaftig gegenwärtig als Spender der Befreiung.
Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)
Tirtha: Avimukta (Kāśī)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Muni (sage)
Scene: A luminous vision of Virūpākṣa/Tryakṣa Śiva abiding in Avimukta, sheltering the mahākṣetra; a frail, aging devotee approaches with folded hands, the atmosphere charged with liberation at the edge of time.
FAQs
Kāśī (Avimukta) is uniquely safeguarded by Śiva, who grants liberation especially to those nearing death.
Avimukta Kṣetra—Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), celebrated as Śiva’s ever‑abiding field.
No specific rite is prescribed here; the emphasis is on Śiva’s direct presence and the salvific power of residing in/attaining Kāśī.