Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 42
शैवाः पूज्याः प्रयत्नेन काश्या मोक्षमभीप्सुभिः । तेष्वर्चितेष्वपि शिवः प्रीतो भवत्यसंशयः
śaivāḥ pūjyāḥ prayatnena kāśyā mokṣamabhīpsubhiḥ | teṣvarciteṣvapi śivaḥ prīto bhavatyasaṃśayaḥ
À Kāśī, ceux qui aspirent à la délivrance doivent, avec effort, honorer les Śaiva ; car lorsqu’ils sont vénérés, Śiva Lui-même s’en réjouit, sans aucun doute.
Skanda (deduced: Kāśī Khaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta/Ānandakānana)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Pilgrims/mokṣa-seekers addressed as ‘you’ (general adhikārin)
Scene: A mokṣa-seeking pilgrim in Kāśī offers respectful worship and hospitality to Śaiva ascetics near a shrine of Viśveśvara; Śiva’s unseen presence is suggested by aura/light over the liṅga and devotees.
FAQs
Serving and honoring Śiva’s devotees in Kāśī is a direct means to gain Śiva’s grace and move toward mokṣa.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), the Śiva-kṣetra where devotion, service, and liberation are closely linked.
Pūjā/arcana (honoring, worshipping) of Śaivas—devotees of Śiva—is prescribed as a devotional practice.