Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 12
काशीद्विजाशीर्भिरहो यदाप्ता कस्तां मुमुक्षुर्यदिवामुमुक्षुः । ग्रासं करस्थं स विसृज्य हृद्यं स्वकूर्परं लेढि विमूढचेताः
kāśīdvijāśīrbhiraho yadāptā kastāṃ mumukṣuryadivāmumukṣuḥ | grāsaṃ karasthaṃ sa visṛjya hṛdyaṃ svakūrparaṃ leḍhi vimūḍhacetāḥ
अहो! काशी के ब्राह्मणों के आशीर्वाद से प्राप्त हुई काशी को, मोक्ष चाहने वाला हो या न चाहने वाला—कौन त्यागेगा? हाथ में आए मधुर ग्रास को छोड़कर अपना ही कुहनी चाटना तो केवल मूढ़चित्त का काम है।
Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa frame commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Scene: A didactic scene: a wise speaker extols Kāśī while illustrating the proverb—one hand holds a sweet morsel; the other person absurdly tries to lick their elbow, showing delusion.
FAQs
To abandon a rare, merit-bestowing opportunity like residence in Kāśī is spiritual folly—like rejecting what is already attainable.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), revered as a liberation-giving sacred city.
None directly; the verse emphasizes the value of attaining Kāśī through puṇya and saintly blessings.