Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 53
ब्रह्महत्यापनोदाय व्रतं लोकाय दर्शयन् । चर त्वं सततं भिक्षां कापालव्रतमास्थितः । इत्युक्त्वांऽतर्हितो देवस्तेजोरूपस्तदा शिवः
brahmahatyāpanodāya vrataṃ lokāya darśayan | cara tvaṃ satataṃ bhikṣāṃ kāpālavratamāsthitaḥ | ityuktvāṃ'tarhito devastejorūpastadā śivaḥ
To remove the sin of brahmin-slaying, and to display the observance to the world, you shall continually wander seeking alms, established in the Kapala-vrata. Having spoken thus, Shiva disappeared.
Skanda (narrating; includes direct instruction of Śiva)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Scene: Śiva, radiant and formlessly luminous, commands Bhairava to wander continually for alms, established in the Kāpāla-vrata to remove brahmahatyā; then Śiva vanishes—leaving Bhairava with skull-bowl and ascetic resolve.
FAQs
Atonement (prāyaścitta) and public exemplarity are central: even divine power demonstrates humility and discipline to uphold dharma.
The vow is narrated within the Kāśīkhanda’s Bhairava-mahātmya stream, underpinning Kāśī’s unique Śaiva sacred order.
Undertaking the Kāpāla-vrata: bearing the skull and living on alms (bhikṣā) as an atonement for brahmahatyā.
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