Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 64
कोत्र संप्रत्यधिष्ठाता किमधिष्ठातृ चेष्टितम् । यदि जानासि तत्सर्वमिहाचक्ष्व ममाग्रतः
kotra saṃpratyadhiṣṭhātā kimadhiṣṭhātṛ ceṣṭitam | yadi jānāsi tatsarvamihācakṣva mamāgrataḥ
“अब यहाँ का अधिष्ठाता कौन है? उस अधिष्ठाता के क्या कार्य-व्यवहार हैं? यदि तुम जानते हो तो वह सब मेरे सामने कहो।”
Himavān
Tirtha: Kāśī / Avimukta (implied)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka and sages (frame implied)
Scene: Himavān leans forward in earnest inquiry, asking about the current presiding ruler/deity and the deeds that define that sovereignty; the mendicant listens, poised to answer.
FAQs
True understanding begins by identifying the adhiṣṭhātā (presiding divinity) and recognizing divine governance behind sacred places.
Kāśī is the implied setting; the question anticipates the revelation of its presiding Lord (Viśveśvara/Śiva).
None; it is an inquiry that frames forthcoming māhātmya.