Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 38
न नाकलोके सुखमस्ति तादृशं कुतस्तु पातालतलेऽतिसुंदरे । वार्तापि मर्त्ये सुखसंश्रया क्व वा काश्यां हि यादृक्तनुमात्रधारिणि
na nākaloke sukhamasti tādṛśaṃ kutastu pātālatale'tisuṃdare | vārtāpi martye sukhasaṃśrayā kva vā kāśyāṃ hi yādṛktanumātradhāriṇi
Such happiness is not found even in heaven—how much less in the most beautiful regions of Pātāla. In the mortal world, where is there even talk of such joy as in Kāśī, even for one who merely bears a body?
Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Scene: A comparative tableau: on one side Indra’s svarga with apsaras and jeweled halls; below, Pātāla’s ornate beauty; at center, Kāśī’s ghāṭas with a simple pilgrim experiencing a deeper radiance of joy, outshining both realms.
FAQs
Kāśī’s spiritual joy is portrayed as surpassing even heavenly pleasures, accessible even to ordinary embodied people.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), praised as the highest seat of sukha and sanctity.
None; the verse is comparative praise (māhātmya) of Kāśī’s unique bliss.
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