Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 36
गच्छता तिष्ठता वापि स्वपता जाग्रताथवा । काशीत्येष महामंत्रो येन जप्तः सनिर्भयः
gacchatā tiṣṭhatā vāpi svapatā jāgratāthavā | kāśītyeṣa mahāmaṃtro yena japtaḥ sanirbhayaḥ
Qu’il marche ou qu’il demeure debout, qu’il dorme ou qu’il veille, celui qui récite ce grand mantra, « Kāśī », devient sans crainte.
Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context: Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: ‘Kāśī’ nāma as mahāmantra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Pilgrimage/dharma inquirers
Scene: A devotee moving through daily life—walking, standing, sleeping—while the word ‘Kāśī’ appears as luminous syllables around him, forming a protective aura (abhaya).
FAQs
Unbroken remembrance/japa of the Kāśī name is taught as a direct means to inner fearlessness.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), specifically through its name elevated as a mahāmantra.
Continuous japa of the mantra ‘Kāśī’ in all states—moving, resting, sleeping, and waking.