Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 8
विहाय षट्पुरीश्चान्याः काश्यामेवप्रतिष्ठिता । मुक्तिर्विश्वसृजा तत्किं मम मुक्तिर्न संप्रति
vihāya ṣaṭpurīścānyāḥ kāśyāmevapratiṣṭhitā | muktirviśvasṛjā tatkiṃ mama muktirna saṃprati
ಇತರ ಆರು ಪುರಿಗಳನ್ನು ಬಿಟ್ಟು, ಮುಕ್ತಿ ಕಾಶಿಯಲ್ಲೇ ಸ್ಥಾಪಿತವಾಗಿದೆ—ಇದು ವಿಶ್ವಸೃಷ್ಟಿಕರ್ತನ ವಿಧಿ. ಹಾಗಾದರೆ ನನ್ನ ಮುಕ್ತಿ ಈಗಲೇ ಏಕೆ ಸಿದ್ಧವಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ?
Śivaśarman (contextual continuation of questioning)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Two gaṇas
Scene: A contemplative pilgrim stands at the threshold of Kāśī, looking toward the luminous city; above, a subtle cosmic inscription or Brahmā’s decree motif suggests ‘pratiṣṭhā’ of mukti, while the pilgrim’s face shows earnest doubt.
FAQs
Even when a place is famed for liberation, inner readiness and divine grace are implied prerequisites; the verse voices the seeker’s honest doubt.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) is singled out as the uniquely established seat of liberation.
No explicit ritual is described; the focus is on Kāśī’s salvific status and the seeker’s longing for mokṣa.