Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 5
पुर्यष्टकं च दुष्टेभ्यो देवध्रुग्भ्यो ह्यवंति ते । प्रयच्छंति वरान्नित्यं शिवभक्तजने वराः
puryaṣṭakaṃ ca duṣṭebhyo devadhrugbhyo hyavaṃti te | prayacchaṃti varānnityaṃ śivabhaktajane varāḥ
Ils protègent la cité octuple contre les méchants, ceux qui nuisent aux dieux; et ces êtres excellents accordent sans cesse des grâces aux dévots de Śiva.
Gaṇas (continuing)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) – Aiśāna protective circuit implied
Type: kshetra
Scene: The eightfold city (pury-aṣṭaka) is shown as a sacred mandala with protective Śaiva guardians repelling dark, devaharming beings, while devotees receive boons.
FAQs
Śiva’s sacred city is not merely a place to visit—it is divinely guarded, and devotion attracts protective grace and boons.
The protected ‘eightfold city’ within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative (context of Kāśī and Īśāneśa).
None directly; the verse stresses bhakti as the basis for receiving boons.