Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 5
सुमहद्भिस्तपोभिर्वा शिवोन्यत्र विमोचयेत् । योगयुक्तिं न महतीं न दानानि महांति च
sumahadbhistapobhirvā śivonyatra vimocayet | yogayuktiṃ na mahatīṃ na dānāni mahāṃti ca
Di tempat lain, Śiva menganugerahkan mokṣa hanya melalui tapa yang amat besar; namun di Kāśī, tidak diperlukan laku yoga yang rumit maupun sedekah yang sangat besar.
Skanda
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Listener: null
Scene: A pilgrim in simple attire stands at Kāśī’s ghāṭs with folded hands, while distant ascetics perform severe tapas—visually contrasting arduous austerity with Kāśī’s accessible grace under Śiva’s presence.
FAQs
Kāśī is portrayed as a unique place where liberation is made accessible by Śiva’s grace, not by extreme austerity alone.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), the sacred city of Viśveśa/Śiva, is praised for its special power to bestow mokṣa.
No specific ritual is prescribed here; the verse emphasizes that large-scale yoga practices and massive donations are not necessary in Kāśī for liberation.