Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 22
कृतधीभ्योपि कर्तारः कर्तृभ्यो ब्रह्मतत्पराः । न तेषामर्चनीयोऽन्यस्त्रिषु लोकेषु कुंभज
kṛtadhībhyopi kartāraḥ kartṛbhyo brahmatatparāḥ | na teṣāmarcanīyo'nyastriṣu lokeṣu kuṃbhaja
完成された知慧の者よりもなお高いのは、ダルマを実行する行為者である。行為者よりさらに高いのは、全身全霊をもってブラフマンに帰依する者である。かかる人々にとって、クンバジャよ、三界に他に礼拝すべきものはない。
Skanda
Tirtha: Avimukta-kṣetra (Kāśī)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Kumbhaja (Agastya)
Scene: A realized devotee stands before a simple liṅga (Viśveśvara) with unwavering gaze; other deities and worldly attractions fade into the background, while a radiant Brahman-light fills the scene; the sage addresses Kumbhaja nearby.
FAQs
It ranks spiritual excellence: mature understanding, dharmic action, and finally unwavering devotion to Brahman as the highest attainment.
Kāśī is the doctrinal backdrop: the city of liberation where Brahman-realization is treated as the summit.
Worship (arcana) is referenced negatively: for the Brahman-devoted, no other object of worship is considered higher or necessary.