Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 24
ततो निनिंद चात्मानं चिंतार्तः कश्यपात्मजः । धिक्परप्रेष्यतां यस्यां यशो लभ्येत न क्वचित्
tato niniṃda cātmānaṃ ciṃtārtaḥ kaśyapātmajaḥ | dhikparapreṣyatāṃ yasyāṃ yaśo labhyeta na kvacit
Lalu putra Kaśyapa, tersiksa oleh kegelisahan, mencela dirinya sendiri: “Celakalah keadaan menjadi pesuruh orang lain, yang di mana pun tak mendatangkan kemasyhuran!”
Narrator (Skanda-context; verse reports the character’s self-reproach rather than direct address)
Tirtha: Kāśī / Avimukta-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: null
Scene: The son of Kaśyapa stands in a quiet lane of Kāśī, head bowed, hands to chest, face strained with worry; behind him, pilgrims move calmly toward ghāṭas, contrasting his turmoil with the city’s serenity.
FAQs
Self-examination is a step toward dharma; hollow service without righteous purpose does not yield true honor.
The broader Kāśī setting continues in the narrative, though no individual tīrtha is named in this verse.
No ritual is stated; the emphasis is ethical—on intention, duty, and the pursuit of meaningful righteousness.