Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 20
चतुर्णामपि भूतानां प्राणिनोऽतीव चोत्तमाः । प्राणिभ्यामपि मुने श्रेष्ठाः सर्वे बुद्ध्युपजीविनः
caturṇāmapi bhūtānāṃ prāṇino'tīva cottamāḥ | prāṇibhyāmapi mune śreṣṭhāḥ sarve buddhyupajīvinaḥ
Di antara keempat golongan makhluk, yang bernyawa sungguh paling utama. Dan di antara yang bernyawa, wahai resi, mereka yang hidup bersandar pada buddhi (akal-batin) adalah yang terbaik.
Skanda
Tirtha: Avimukta-kṣetra (Kāśī)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Kumbhaja (Agastya)
Scene: A sage gestures to a glowing flame at the forehead (buddhi) of a contemplative pilgrim, while other creatures appear around, indicating the unique capacity of intellect to seek the highest.
FAQs
Intellect-based discernment is portrayed as the highest advantage in embodied life, grounding responsibility for dharmic living.
Kāśī is the implied setting; the verse supports the broader mokṣa teaching by stressing human discernment.
None; the ‘prescription’ is implicit—use buddhi to choose and sustain dharma.