Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 42
स्वच्छंदचारिणोऽनाथाः सर्वत्र स्वाभिमानिनः । अकिंचना अपिप्रायस्तथापीश्वरमानिनः
svacchaṃdacāriṇo'nāthāḥ sarvatra svābhimāninaḥ | akiṃcanā apiprāyastathāpīśvaramāninaḥ
वे स्वच्छंद (मनमानी) विचरण करने वाले, अनाथ और सर्वत्र अभिमानी होते हैं। यद्यपि वे प्रायः अकिंचन (दरिद्र) होते हैं, तथापि स्वयं को ईश्वर मानते हैं।
Unspecified character (continuing narrative speaker; not stated in snippet)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Wanderers moving through lanes and ghats, heads held high despite ragged clothes; a Śiva temple doorway stands nearby, suggesting the true ‘Nātha’ they ignore.
FAQs
It critiques pride and lawlessness: inner arrogance can persist even in outward poverty, obstructing humility and dharmic living.
The Kāśīkhaṇḍa context implies Kāśī, but no particular tīrtha is specified in this verse.
None.