Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 54
प्राप्यापि काशीं दुर्बुद्धिर्यो न मां परिसेवते । तस्य हस्तगताप्याशु कैवल्यश्रीः प्रणश्यति
prāpyāpi kāśīṃ durbuddhiryo na māṃ parisevate | tasya hastagatāpyāśu kaivalyaśrīḥ praṇaśyati
കാശി പ്രാപിച്ചിട്ടും ദുർബുദ്ധിയുള്ളവൻ എന്നെ സേവിച്ചു ഭജിക്കാതിരുന്നാൽ, അവന്റെ കൈയിൽ വന്നതുപോലെ തോന്നുന്ന കൈവല്യശ്രീയും शीഘ്രം നഷ്ടപ്പെടുന്നു।
Śiva (as Maheśāna)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra)
Type: kshetra
Listener: null
Scene: A pilgrim stands within luminous Kāśī yet turns away from Śiva’s shrine; the radiance of ‘kaivalya-śrī’ slips like a falling lotus from his hand, while Viśveśvara’s presence remains steady and compassionate.
FAQs
Sacred geography is not enough by itself; without Śiva-bhakti and service, even Kāśī’s near-at-hand liberation is missed.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), shown as offering kaivalya—yet requiring devotion to Śiva.
Parisevā (devout service/worship) of Śiva is prescribed as indispensable.