Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 9
न चित्रमत्र भूदेव भवमाया दुरत्यया । तया संमोहिताः सर्वे नावयंत्यपि तं परम्
na citramatra bhūdeva bhavamāyā duratyayā | tayā saṃmohitāḥ sarve nāvayaṃtyapi taṃ param
Ini bukanlah keheranan, wahai dewa-sage: māyā Bhava (Śiva) sukar dilampaui. Tersesat olehnya, semua makhluk tak mampu memahami Yang Mahatinggi itu.
Skanda (contextual)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta) as a grace-field to cross māyā
Type: kshetra
Listener: Addressed as ‘bhūdeva’ (divine sage)
Scene: A sage is addressed: the world appears veiled by a shimmering curtain (māyā), while beyond it a steady, formless radiance indicates the Supreme; Skanda points toward the unseen reality.
FAQs
Delusion is not merely ignorance; it is māyā that veils the Supreme, overcome through grace and right knowledge.
Indirectly Kāśī, as the chapter’s setting, where teachings on Śiva’s supreme nature are given.
None stated; the verse emphasizes inner discernment beyond māyā.