Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 91
आविरासीन्महादेवस्तुष्टस्तत्तपसा ततः । उवाच कार्दमे ब्रूहि कं ददामि वरोत्तमम्
āvirāsīnmahādevastuṣṭastattapasā tataḥ | uvāca kārdame brūhi kaṃ dadāmi varottamam
ആ തപസ്സിൽ പ്രസന്നനായ മഹാദേവൻ പ്രത്യക്ഷനായി, കാർദമനോട്—“പറയുക, നിനക്ക് ഏത് ഉത്തമ വരം നൽകാം?” എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു।
Śiva (Mahādeva)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Mahādeva suddenly manifests before the motionless ascetic in Kāśī, radiating compassion and power, and invites him to ask for the highest boon; the air brightens, the liṅga gleams, and attendants (gaṇas) may be faintly present.
FAQs
Sincere tapas culminates in divine audience (darśana) and the Lord’s readiness to bless the devotee.
The wider Kāśī-kṣetra context is implied, where Mahādeva quickly responds to devotion.
No ritual is prescribed; the verse highlights the fruit of tapas—Śiva’s darśana and boon-granting.