Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 98
न राज्यं राज्यमित्याहू राज्यश्रीः प्रेयसी ध्रुवम् । सप्तांगमपि तद्राज्यं तया हीनं तृणायते
na rājyaṃ rājyamityāhū rājyaśrīḥ preyasī dhruvam | saptāṃgamapi tadrājyaṃ tayā hīnaṃ tṛṇāyate
“Orang berkata: kerajaan saja bukanlah ‘kerajaan’ sejati; kemuliaan kedaulatan sesungguhnya adalah sang kekasih. Bahkan negeri yang lengkap dengan tujuh anggota pun, tanpa dia, menjadi hina laksana rumput.”
Mālyaketu (the king)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Listener: Naimiṣāraṇya sages
Scene: A symbolic composition: the seven emblems of kingship (army, treasury, ministers, fort, etc.) shown diminished or fading, while Kalāvatī stands radiant; the king points to her as true ‘rājyaśrī’.
FAQs
Even perfected worldly systems are secondary to inner fulfillment and dharmic commitment; external power is hollow without the heart’s anchor.
The verse is not a direct tīrtha-praise; it supports the storyline that leads toward Kāśī’s sacred merit.
None; the teaching is ethical and contemplative.