Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 2
देवदेव उवाच । सप्ताश्व त्वरितो याहि पुरीं वाराणसीं शुभाम् । यत्रास्ति स दिवोदासो धर्ममूर्तिर्महीपतिः
devadeva uvāca | saptāśva tvarito yāhi purīṃ vārāṇasīṃ śubhām | yatrāsti sa divodāso dharmamūrtirmahīpatiḥ
Le Dieu des dieux dit : « Ô Saptāśva, hâte-toi d’aller vers l’auspicieuse cité de Vārāṇasī, où demeure le roi Divodāsa, incarnation même du Dharma. »
Devadeva (the God of gods; as named in the verse)
Tirtha: Vārāṇasī (Kāśī)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Saptāśva
Scene: The Lord of gods commands Saptāśva to hasten to Vārāṇasī, where Divodāsa, embodiment of Dharma, resides; the messenger is shown poised for swift travel toward the sacred city skyline.
FAQs
Kāśī’s sanctity is intertwined with dharmic kingship; Divodāsa is upheld as a ruler whose life embodies Dharma.
Vārāṇasī (Kāśī) is explicitly praised as ‘śubhā’—an auspicious sacred city.
No ritual is prescribed; it is a command initiating travel to Vārāṇasī to meet Divodāsa.