Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 61
विना शिवप्रसादं हि भ्रांतिः क्वापि न नश्यति । अतएव भ्रमंत्येते भ्रमराः शिववर्जिताः
vinā śivaprasādaṃ hi bhrāṃtiḥ kvāpi na naśyati | ataeva bhramaṃtyete bhramarāḥ śivavarjitāḥ
Tanpa anugerah Śiva, kesesatan tak pernah sungguh lenyap di mana pun. Karena itu, para ‘bhramara’—yang tanpa Śiva—terus mengembara.
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī/Avimukta
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka and ṛṣis
Scene: Pilgrims wander in circles like bees around flowers, while a serene Śiva presence (symbolized by liṅga/light) remains distant to those lacking devotion; a devotee receives a ray of grace dispelling fog-like delusion.
FAQs
Lasting freedom from delusion arises from Śiva’s grace; without it, beings remain restless and confused.
Kāśī’s Śaiva framework is implied: the kṣetra is a locus of Śiva’s grace, contrasted with the state of being ‘Śiva-less’.
No specific rite is named; the implied prescription is to seek Śiva’s prasāda through sincere bhakti and śivārcana.