Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 50
रविरुवाच । अंतरात्मासि जगतां विश्वंभर जगत्पते । तवापि पूज्यः कोप्यस्ति जगत्पूज्यात्र माधव
raviruvāca | aṃtarātmāsi jagatāṃ viśvaṃbhara jagatpate | tavāpi pūjyaḥ kopyasti jagatpūjyātra mādhava
Ravi (Sūrya) said: “You are the inner Self of beings, O Sustainer of the universe, O Lord of the world. Yet is there someone whom even You worship here, O Mādhava—You who are worshipped by the world?”
Sūrya (Ravi)
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: Sūrya speaks with folded hands, eyes lifted in wonder, addressing Viṣṇu as inner Self and world-lord; the moment is charged with philosophical curiosity—‘Is there anyone You worship here?’
FAQs
Even the supreme sustainer honors the supreme principle—true greatness includes reverence for the highest Reality.
Kāśī is implied as the sacred ‘here’ where the hierarchy of worship reveals Śiva’s special eminence in the Kṣetra.
No explicit rite; the verse initiates a doctrinal inquiry that leads to praise of Śiva/Mṛtyuñjaya worship.