Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 56
भूयसां ब्राह्मणानां तु स्थानं वाराणसी भवेत् । तानादावुपसंहृत्य यामि तीर्थांतरं ततः
bhūyasāṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ tu sthānaṃ vārāṇasī bhavet | tānādāvupasaṃhṛtya yāmi tīrthāṃtaraṃ tataḥ
അനേകം ബ്രാഹ്മണരുടെ പ്രധാന വാസസ്ഥലം വാരാണസിയത്രേ. ആദ്യം അവിടെ അവരെ നശിപ്പിച്ച്, പിന്നെ ഞാൻ മറ്റു തീർത്ഥങ്ങളിലേക്കു പോകും.
Skanda (narrating; the quoted intent is of the demon Duṃdubhi-nirhrāda)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Vārāṇasī)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A dark, determined asura-like figure speaks of Kāśī as the chief abode of brāhmaṇas, plotting destruction before moving to other tīrthas; the city’s ghāṭas and spires loom in the background under a heavy sky.
FAQs
Kāśī is portrayed as a prime seat of dharma; threats against the righteous highlight the need for divine protection and steadfast devotion.
Vārāṇasī (Kāśī), presented as a foremost dwelling-place of Brāhmaṇas and a central tīrtha in the Skanda Purāṇa.
No specific rite is prescribed; the verse frames a narrative motive involving tīrthas and the targeting of the pious.