Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 44
आमर्दयिष्यति भवांस्तुष्टो दुष्टात्मनो यतः । आमर्दक इति ख्याति ततः सर्वत्र यास्यति
āmardayiṣyati bhavāṃstuṣṭo duṣṭātmano yataḥ | āmardaka iti khyāti tataḥ sarvatra yāsyati
നീ പ്രസന്നനായാൽ ദുഷ്ടമനസ്സുള്ളവരെ മർദിച്ച് (ചതച്ച്) തകർക്കും; അതിനാൽ ‘ആമർദക’ എന്ന നിന്റെ ഖ്യാതി എല്ലായിടത്തും പരക്കും.
Skanda (narrating Brahmā’s speech; deduced: Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Scene: Āmardaka aspect: Kālabhairava, satisfied by dharmic order, crushes a symbolic wicked figure (demonic arrogance) underfoot; his expression is stern but not chaotic—justice embodied; his fame radiates outward like ripples across the world.
FAQs
Divine protection is active: the guardian power removes wickedness when approached with proper reverence.
Kāśī, where Bhairava’s protective and punitive role is integral to the city’s sacred order.
No explicit ritual is stated; the verse emphasizes Bhairava’s function as chastiser and protector.