Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 50
विश्वेशानुग्रहेणैव त्वयैषा पाल्यते पुरी । एकस्याप्यवनात्काश्यां त्रैलोक्यमवितं भवेत्
viśveśānugraheṇaiva tvayaiṣā pālyate purī | ekasyāpyavanātkāśyāṃ trailokyamavitaṃ bhavet
विश्वेश्वर की कृपा से ही यह पुरी तुम्हारे द्वारा रक्षित है; काशी में एक जन की भी रक्षा करने से मानो त्रैलोक्य की रक्षा हो जाती है।
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue context)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Viśveśvara-kṣetra)
Type: kshetra
Listener: The King (protector of the city)
Scene: A king stands vigil at Kāśī’s gates/ghāṭas with attendants, ensuring pilgrims’ safety; above, Viśveśvara’s luminous presence signifies grace; a single protected pilgrim is highlighted, symbolizing protection of the three worlds.
FAQs
Service and protection offered in Kāśī, under Viśveśvara’s grace, is magnified into cosmic-scale merit.
Kāśī, under the lordship of Viśveśvara (Śiva).
A dharmic duty is implied: protection/guardianship in Kāśī as a meritorious act, especially for rulers.