Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 85
देशः कोशो बलं दुर्गं यदन्यदपि भामिनि । तत्त्वदीयं न मे किंचित्स्वाम्यमात्रमिहास्ति मे
deśaḥ kośo balaṃ durgaṃ yadanyadapi bhāmini | tattvadīyaṃ na me kiṃcitsvāmyamātramihāsti me
“The land, the treasury, the army, the forts—whatever else there is, O radiant one—belongs to you. Nothing here is truly mine; only the bare title of ‘lordship’ remains with me.”
King
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka and ṛṣis (typical)
Scene: The king enumerates instruments of power—realm, treasury, army, forts—then relinquishes them, standing as a figure of humbled sovereignty; the beloved is shown as rightful recipient, symbolizing virtue’s claim over power.
FAQs
Non-possessiveness and generosity are hallmarks of dharmic rulership—power is treated as stewardship, not selfish ownership.
No particular tīrtha is mentioned; the verse belongs to the Kāśī Khaṇḍa’s broader sacred narrative setting.
None directly; the spirit aligns with dāna (generous giving) as a royal virtue.