Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 22
न सत्पथेनापि न योगयुक्त्या दानैर्नवा नैव तपोभिरुग्रैः । काशी द्विजाशीर्भिरहो सुलभ्या किंवा प्रसादेन च विश्वभर्तुः
na satpathenāpi na yogayuktyā dānairnavā naiva tapobhirugraiḥ | kāśī dvijāśīrbhiraho sulabhyā kiṃvā prasādena ca viśvabhartuḥ
Bukan dengan jalan benar semata, bukan pula dengan disiplin yoga, bukan dengan sedekah dan derma, dan bukan dengan tapa yang keras Kāśī diperoleh dengan mudah. Namun, sungguh, Kāśī menjadi mudah diraih oleh berkat para dvija, atau oleh anugerah (prasāda) Tuhan Pemelihara semesta.
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue, typically Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī / Avimukta
Type: kshetra
Scene: A pilgrim burdened with ascetic implements (yoga, tapas, dāna) sets them down as a brāhmaṇa offers blessing; above, Śiva’s hand extends prasāda, and Kāśī’s ghāts and temple appear effortlessly near.
FAQs
Divine grace and saintly blessings can grant access to Kāśī’s liberating power beyond personal effort alone.
Kāśī (Avimukta/Vārāṇasī).
Charity (dāna) and austerity (tapas) are referenced, but the verse stresses grace and blessings rather than prescribing a specific rite.