Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 32
श्रीकालराजं च ततः प्रणम्य विज्ञापयामास मुनीशवर्यः । आपृच्छनायाहमिहागतोस्मि श्रीकाशिपुर्यास्तु यतः प्रभुस्त्वम्
śrīkālarājaṃ ca tataḥ praṇamya vijñāpayāmāsa munīśavaryaḥ | āpṛcchanāyāhamihāgatosmi śrīkāśipuryāstu yataḥ prabhustvam
तब श्रीकालराज को प्रणाम करके श्रेष्ठ मुनि ने निवेदन किया—“मैं विदा लेने यहाँ आया हूँ, क्योंकि श्रीकाशीपुरी के आप ही प्रभु और रक्षक हैं।”
A sage (munīśa-varyaḥ) addressing Kālarāja/Kālabhairava (within Skanda’s narration)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) – Kālarāja/Kṣetrapāla
Type: kshetra
Listener: Audience of the Kāśīkhaṇḍa discourse
Scene: A foremost sage bows to Kālarāja, hands folded, speaking a formal request to take leave; Kālarāja appears as a protective, authoritative figure at the threshold of Kāśī—suggesting a city-gate or shrine entrance.
FAQs
Approach the kṣetrapāla with humility; honoring the guardian of the sacred place is part of dharmic conduct.
Śrī Kāśīpurī (Vārāṇasī), under the lordship/guardianship of Kālarāja (Kālabhairava).
A devotional protocol is implied: bowing (praṇāma) and formally asking leave (āpṛcchā) from the kṣetrapāla.