Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 85
देशः कोशो बलं दुर्गं यदन्यदपि भामिनि । तत्त्वदीयं न मे किंचित्स्वाम्यमात्रमिहास्ति मे
deśaḥ kośo balaṃ durgaṃ yadanyadapi bhāmini | tattvadīyaṃ na me kiṃcitsvāmyamātramihāsti me
“Negeri, perbendaharaan, bala tentara, benteng—dan apa pun yang lain, wahai yang bercahaya—semuanya milikmu. Di sini sesungguhnya tiada apa pun yang benar-benar milikku; padaku hanya tinggal nama ‘kekuasaan’ semata.”
King
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka and ṛṣis (typical)
Scene: The king enumerates instruments of power—realm, treasury, army, forts—then relinquishes them, standing as a figure of humbled sovereignty; the beloved is shown as rightful recipient, symbolizing virtue’s claim over power.
FAQs
Non-possessiveness and generosity are hallmarks of dharmic rulership—power is treated as stewardship, not selfish ownership.
No particular tīrtha is mentioned; the verse belongs to the Kāśī Khaṇḍa’s broader sacred narrative setting.
None directly; the spirit aligns with dāna (generous giving) as a royal virtue.