Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 27
अथर्वोवाच । यं प्रपश्यंति देवेशं भक्त्यानुग्रहिणो जनाः । तमाहुरेकं कैवल्यं शंकरं दुःखतस्करम्
atharvovāca | yaṃ prapaśyaṃti deveśaṃ bhaktyānugrahiṇo janāḥ | tamāhurekaṃ kaivalyaṃ śaṃkaraṃ duḥkhataskaram
アタルヴァは言った。「信愛の恩寵を受けた人々は、神々の主なる彼を拝する。彼らは宣べる――シャンカラただ一人こそカイヴァリヤ（絶対の解脱）そのものであり、悲しみを盗み去る盗賊である、と。」
Atharva (personified Atharvaveda/Śruti)
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Sage/audience
Scene: Atharvaveda personified declares that devotees, graced by bhakti, behold Devesha; Śaṅkara appears as Kaivalya embodied, gently removing sorrow from worshippers.
FAQs
Liberation is not merely attained by effort but through devotion that invites grace; Śiva is portrayed as liberation itself and as the remover of suffering.
The broader setting is Kāśīkhaṇḍa (the glory of Kāśī), where Śiva’s saving power is central; this verse itself does not specify a particular shrine or ghat.
No ritual act is mandated; devotion (bhakti) and the resulting divine grace are emphasized.