Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 11
वसिष्ठ उवाच । आसीत्काश्यां पुरा कश्चित्त्रिदण्डी मोक्षधर्मवित् । जपन्दशाश्वेमेधे तु गायत्रीं च समाहितः
vasiṣṭha uvāca | āsītkāśyāṃ purā kaścittridaṇḍī mokṣadharmavit | japandaśāśvemedhe tu gāyatrīṃ ca samāhitaḥ
वसिष्ठ बोले—पूर्वकाल में काशी में एक त्रिदण्डी संन्यासी रहता था, जो मोक्षधर्म का ज्ञाता था। वह एकाग्रचित्त होकर गायत्री का जप करता था, जो दस अश्वमेध यज्ञों के समान फलदायी है।
Vasiṣṭha
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Listener: Dilīpa
Scene: A tridaṇḍin ascetic in Kāśī sits in meditation, holding a staff (threefold daṇḍa), chanting Gāyatrī with focused gaze; the Gaṅgā and temple spires form a quiet sacred backdrop.
FAQs
Mantra-japa performed with deep concentration is exalted as a direct, liberation-oriented practice, surpassing or equaling grand ritual sacrifices in merit.
Kāśī is presented as the setting for a mokṣa-oriented ascetic life and potent spiritual practice.
Gāyatrī-japa with samādhi-like focus is highlighted, with its merit compared to ten Aśvamedha sacrifices.