Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 19
अत्रत्यः प्राणिमात्रोपि रक्षणीयः प्रयत्नतः । एकस्मिन्रक्षिते जंतावत्र काश्यां प्रयत्नतः । त्रैलोक्यरक्षणात्पुण्यं यत्स्यात्तत्स्यान्न संशयः
atratyaḥ prāṇimātropi rakṣaṇīyaḥ prayatnataḥ | ekasminrakṣite jaṃtāvatra kāśyāṃ prayatnataḥ | trailokyarakṣaṇātpuṇyaṃ yatsyāttatsyānna saṃśayaḥ
In this place, Kāśī, even the smallest living creature should be protected with all one’s effort. If here in Kāśī, through sincere striving, even one being is safeguarded, the merit gained equals that born of protecting the three worlds—of this there is no doubt.
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa context, typically Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A pilgrim in Kāśī gently rescues a small creature near a ghat, with Viśveśvara’s presence implied; the city’s temples and Gaṅgā frame the act of compassion as cosmic-scale protection.
FAQs
Compassionate protection of life in Kāśī is presented as an exceptionally powerful dharma, yielding vast merit.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) is glorified as a uniquely merit-multiplying sacred field (kṣetra).
No specific rite is prescribed; the instruction is ethical-dharmic: protect living beings diligently while in Kāśī.