Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 40
षडंगयोगान्नहि तादृशी नृभिः शरीरसिद्धिः सहसात्र लभ्यते । सुखेन काशीं समवाप्य यादृशीदृशौ स्थिरीकृत्य शिव त्वयि क्षणम्
ṣaḍaṃgayogānnahi tādṛśī nṛbhiḥ śarīrasiddhiḥ sahasātra labhyate | sukhena kāśīṃ samavāpya yādṛśīdṛśau sthirīkṛtya śiva tvayi kṣaṇam
Dengan yoga bersendi enam, manusia di sini tidak cepat meraih kesempurnaan tubuh seperti itu. Namun dengan mudah mencapai Kāśī, dan meneguhkan pandangan walau sekejap kepada-Mu, wahai Śiva, tercapailah pemenuhan yang sama.
Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Ṛṣis/assembly of listeners
Scene: A pilgrim reaches Kāśī and, amid temple spires and ghāṭas, fixes an unwavering gaze on Śiva for a single moment; the aura suggests instant inner perfection surpassing arduous yogic practice.
FAQs
Kāśī makes difficult yogic attainments accessible through simple pilgrimage and Śiva-darśana.
Kāśī, as the place where even momentary focus on Śiva yields extraordinary fruit.
Darśana and dhyāna are implied: reach Kāśī and fix one’s gaze/mind on Śiva even briefly.