Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 35
देहेष्वनित्यतां दृष्ट्वा नित्यता परमात्मनः । कुर्वीत मुक्तये यत्नं यत्रयत्राश्रमे रतः
deheṣvanityatāṃ dṛṣṭvā nityatā paramātmanaḥ | kurvīta muktaye yatnaṃ yatrayatrāśrame rataḥ
Seeing the impermanence of bodies and the eternity of the Supreme Self (Paramātman), one should strive for liberation, devoted in whatever āśrama one abides.
Skanda
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra)
Type: kshetra
Listener: null
Scene: A seeker contemplates a fading body (withered leaf motif) while a steady, luminous inner flame symbolizes the Paramātman; four āśramas appear as subtle background figures, all oriented toward a central Śiva-liṅga/inner light.
FAQs
Moksha is grounded in discernment: body is impermanent, the Self is eternal; therefore liberation-effort is essential in every life-stage.
Kāśī is the implied liberating setting where such knowledge and striving are especially celebrated.
A general prescription: make sustained effort toward mukti regardless of being a student, householder, forest-dweller, or renunciate.