Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 8
अतिचित्रमिदं यदात्मना शुचिरप्येष कृपीटयोनिना । स्वपुरीविरहोद्भवेन वै परिताप्येत जगत्त्रयेश्वरः
aticitramidaṃ yadātmanā śucirapyeṣa kṛpīṭayoninā | svapurīvirahodbhavena vai paritāpyeta jagattrayeśvaraḥ
How wondrous this is: though pure in himself, this Lord—born from the fire (kṛpīṭa)—the Ruler of the three worlds, is indeed tormented by the anguish arising from separation from his own city (Kāśī).
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Śiva-purī)
Type: kshetra
Listener: null
Scene: A contemplative tableau: the three-world Lord, radiant and pure, is nevertheless shown with a subtle expression of burning anguish—caused solely by separation from Kāśī; the paradox is the focal point.
FAQs
Kāśī’s sanctity is so extraordinary that even the perfectly pure Lord is poetically shown as pained without it—affirming Kāśī as Śiva’s dearest abode.
Kāśī, explicitly called “his own city” (svapurī) of the Lord.
None; it is doctrinal praise emphasizing Kāśī’s unique status.