Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 68
एवं काश्यां प्रविश्यापि पापी धर्मानुषंगतः । न क्षेत्रफलमाप्नोति बहिर्भवति तत्क्षणात्
evaṃ kāśyāṃ praviśyāpi pāpī dharmānuṣaṃgataḥ | na kṣetraphalamāpnoti bahirbhavati tatkṣaṇāt
ഇങ്ങനെ കാശിയിൽ പ്രവേശിച്ചാലും, പാപി ധർമ്മത്തോടുള്ള വെറും പുറംബന്ധത്തിൽ മലിനനായി നിലകൊള്ളുകയാണെങ്കിൽ, ക്ഷേത്രഫലം ലഭിക്കുകയില്ല; അതേ ക്ഷണത്തിൽ തന്നെ അവൻ (ക്ഷേത്രകൃപയിൽ നിന്ന്) പുറത്താകുന്നു।
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda speaking to Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka and sages (traditional frame) / addressed to a ‘muni’ in-context
Scene: A pilgrim steps into Kāśī’s sacred boundary yet is shown being turned away by an unseen kṣetra-śakti; the city’s luminous aura remains inaccessible until the heart is purified.
FAQs
Kāśī’s merit is not gained by mere entry or outward religiosity; inner disposition and genuine alignment with dharma are essential.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) as a kṣetra whose spiritual ‘fruit’ is reserved for sincere seekers.
No specific rite is prescribed; the verse emphasizes qualification—purity of intent and authentic dharma—over mere presence.