Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 33
धर्मादर्थोऽर्थतः कामः कामात्सर्वसुखोदयः । स्वर्गोपि सुलभो धर्मात्काश्ये का दुर्लभा परम्
dharmādartho'rthataḥ kāmaḥ kāmātsarvasukhodayaḥ | svargopi sulabho dharmātkāśye kā durlabhā param
Dari Dharma lahir kemakmuran; dari kemakmuran terpenuhi keinginan yang benar; dari terpenuhinya keinginan mekar segala kebahagiaan. Surga pun mudah diraih melalui Dharma—maka di Kāśī, apa lagi yang sukar dicapai?
Skanda (deduced; Kāśī-khaṇḍa commonly Skanda speaking to Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Listener: null
Scene: A symbolic ladder or flowing sequence: dharma as a radiant foundation stone in Kāśī, from which arise artha (grain/coins), kāma (lotus of fulfilled wishes), sukha (blooming garden), and above them svarga (celestial light), all framed by Kāśī’s ghats and Śiva’s presence.
FAQs
Dharma is the root that yields prosperity, fulfillment, happiness, and even heaven—especially accessible in Kāśī.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), praised as a place where attainments become unusually accessible.
No single rite is named; the teaching emphasizes Dharma as the decisive practice.