Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 89
काश्यां यो राजधान्यां मे हित्वा मामन्यमर्चयेत् । स वराकोल्पधीर्मुष्टोऽल्पतुष्टिर्मुक्तिवर्जितः
kāśyāṃ yo rājadhānyāṃ me hitvā māmanyamarcayet | sa varākolpadhīrmuṣṭo'lpatuṣṭirmuktivarjitaḥ
मेरी राजधानी काशी में जो मुझे छोड़कर किसी अन्य की पूजा करता है, वह दीन है, अल्पबुद्धि है, कृपण है, थोड़े में ही तुष्ट हो जाता है और मुक्ति से वंचित रहता है।
Śiva (Devadeva)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Śiva-rājadhānī)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A pilgrim in Kāśī turns away from a radiant Śiva shrine toward a lesser, glittering distraction; the scene carries a cautionary tone—small gains contrasted with the looming promise of liberation.
FAQs
Kāśī is portrayed as Śiva’s own domain; turning away from Śiva there is depicted as spiritual folly that obstructs liberation.
Kāśī, described as Śiva’s rājadhānī (royal city).
An implicit prescription of prioritizing Śiva-arcana in Kāśī rather than diverting worship away from Śiva within that sacred sphere.