Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 33
त्रिविष्टपे संति न किं पुरः शतं समस्तकौतूहलजन्मभूमयः । तृणी भवंतीह च ताः पुरःपुरः पदं पुरारे भवतो भवद्विषः
triviṣṭape saṃti na kiṃ puraḥ śataṃ samastakautūhalajanmabhūmayaḥ | tṛṇī bhavaṃtīha ca tāḥ puraḥpuraḥ padaṃ purāre bhavato bhavadviṣaḥ
In Triviṣṭapa (heaven), are there not hundreds of cities, birthplaces of every wonder? Yet here they become like mere blades of grass, one after another, before your station, O Purāri—before your Kāśī, O foe of Bhava’s foes.
Pārvatī
Tirtha: Kāśī (Śiva’s padam)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śiva (Purāri)
Scene: A split-scene: opulent svarga with many jeweled cities on one side; on the other, Kāśī glowing with austere sanctity. The heavenly cities visually diminish into grass before the ‘station’ of Purāri (Śiva) in Kāśī.
FAQs
Even heavenly enjoyments are insignificant compared to the liberating station associated with Śiva—Kāśī.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), implied as Śiva’s supreme ‘padam’ before which even svarga pales.
None stated; it is comparative praise to inspire aspiration toward Kāśī rather than mere heavenly goals.