Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 120
ब्रह्मज्ञानं न विंदंति योगैरेकेन जन्मना । जन्मनैकेन मुच्यंते काश्यामंतकृतो जनाः
brahmajñānaṃ na viṃdaṃti yogairekena janmanā | janmanaikena mucyaṃte kāśyāmaṃtakṛto janāḥ
Même par les disciplines du yoga, on n’obtient pas en une seule vie la connaissance de Brahman ; mais ceux dont la fin advient à Kāśī sont délivrés en cette même existence.
Skanda (deduced for Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue context)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Devotees/ṛṣis (contextual)
Scene: A pilgrim at the edge of life in Kāśī, with Viśveśvara’s presence implied; Gaṅgā flowing beside cremation ghāṭs, the soul rising toward light as yogins look on in wonder.
FAQs
Kāśī is praised as a mokṣa-kṣetra where liberation can be attained swiftly, surpassing what may take many lifetimes of yoga.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), celebrated as a place where even the moment of death becomes spiritually decisive.
No specific rite is prescribed here; the emphasis is on the sanctity of Kāśī and the salvific power of one’s final moment there.