Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 42
धर्मराजस्य तपसा तिर्यञ्चोपि वयं विभो । जाताः स्म निर्विकल्पं हि सर्वज्ञानस्य भाजनम्
dharmarājasya tapasā tiryañcopi vayaṃ vibho | jātāḥ sma nirvikalpaṃ hi sarvajñānasya bhājanam
Par l’austérité de Dharmarāja—bien que nous ne soyons que des oiseaux, ô Seigneur—nous sommes devenus, sans nul doute, des vases dignes de porter l’omniscience.
Deductively: birds/winged beings speaking to a superior deity (vibhu), in this passage to Śiva
Scene: Two or more birds (tiryak) depicted with luminous eyes and a sage-like aura, perched near a Dharma emblem or a pīṭha; above them a subtle figure of Dharmarāja/Yama as a benign, radiant presence, indicating tapas-bestowed omniscience.
FAQs
Dharma and tapas can elevate even humble beings, making them worthy receptacles of profound knowledge.
No single tīrtha is named in this line; it supports the broader Kāśī māhātmya narrative through the theme of dharma’s power.
Tapas (austerity) is highlighted as the enabling spiritual discipline, attributed here to Dharmarāja.