Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 32
सुधां पिबति यो नित्यं काशीवर्णद्वयात्मिकाम् । स नैर्जरीं दशां हित्वा सुधैव परिजायते
sudhāṃ pibati yo nityaṃ kāśīvarṇadvayātmikām | sa nairjarīṃ daśāṃ hitvā sudhaiva parijāyate
જે નિત્ય ‘કાશી’ના દ્વ્યક્ષર સ્વરૂપ અમૃતનું પાન કરે છે, તે મર્ત્ય દશા ત્યજી અમૃતસ્વરૂપ બની ફરી પ્રગટે છે.
Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context: Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī (nāma-amṛta)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A devotee cups hands as if drinking luminous nectar formed by the syllables ‘Kā’ and ‘Śī’; the body becomes radiant, shedding a grey mortal sheath; celestial beings witness the transfiguration.
FAQs
The name ‘Kāśī’ is exalted as amṛta—regular contemplation/recitation is said to transmute mortality into liberating immortality.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), whose very name is celebrated as nectar.
Daily engagement with the Kāśī name-mantra—metaphorically ‘drinking’ it through japa and devotion.