Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 6
ये च शक्तिं न मन्यंते तिरस्कुर्वंति चाधमाः । योगीन्द्रा अपि ते व्यक्तं भ्रश्यंते काशिजा यथा
ye ca śaktiṃ na manyaṃte tiraskurvaṃti cādhamāḥ | yogīndrā api te vyaktaṃ bhraśyaṃte kāśijā yathā
Those base people who neither acknowledge Śakti nor honor her, but instead disparage her—even if they are called “lords of yogins”—surely fall, just as certain ones in Kāśī once fell.
Nārada (continuing narration)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Scene: A didactic scene on the ghats of Kashi: proud ascetics/yogins disparage Devi; their yogic radiance dims and they stumble from their seat, while sincere devotees offer lamps to Devi-Shakti; the city’s sacred skyline watches silently.
FAQs
Spiritual attainment is undermined by contempt for the Divine Feminine; reverence is essential to sustain yogic progress.
Kāśī (Varanasi) is referenced as an illustrative setting for a cautionary example.
Implicit prescription: do not disparage Śakti; maintain worshipful respect (upacāra/bhakti).