Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 35
तुच्छश्रियः स्वर्गभूमीः परिहायागतैरिव । नानासुरनिकायैश्च विष्वग्भोगेच्छयोषितम्
tucchaśriyaḥ svargabhūmīḥ parihāyāgatairiva | nānāsuranikāyaiśca viṣvagbhogecchayoṣitam
Comme s’ils tenaient pour dérisoires les splendeurs mêmes du ciel et s’en étaient détournés, des cohortes de divers devas semblaient y demeurer, attirées de toutes parts par le désir de goûter ses jouissances bénies.
Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A luminous vision of Kāśī as a city/kshetra so attractive that celestial beings appear to have abandoned heaven; divine hosts gather in all directions, drawn by the promise of blessed enjoyments and sanctity.
FAQs
Kāśī’s sanctity is presented as surpassing even heaven—true spiritual excellence lies in a dharma-saturated tīrtha, not mere celestial luxury.
Kāśī as a puṇya-kṣetra so exalted that even devas are portrayed as residing there.
None directly; the verse underscores the fruit of presence/association with the holy place.