Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 45
स तापसोक्तमाकर्ण्य त्वाष्ट्र इत्थं सुहृष्टवान् । काशीसंप्रात्युपायं च तमेव समपृच्छत
sa tāpasoktamākarṇya tvāṣṭra itthaṃ suhṛṣṭavān | kāśīsaṃprātyupāyaṃ ca tameva samapṛcchata
തപസ്വിയുടെ വാക്കുകൾ കേട്ട് ത്വാഷ്ട്രൻ അത്യന്തം സന്തോഷിച്ചു; കാശിയിൽ എത്താനുള്ള ഉപായം അതേ മുനിയോടു ചോദിച്ചു.
Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative convention)
Tirtha: Kāśī (as destination of inquiry)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A sage seated in a forest hermitage speaks; Tvāṣṭra listens with brightened face and folded hands, then leans forward to ask about the path to Kāśī; in the background, a faint vision of Kāśī’s ghāṭs appears like a spiritual destination.
FAQs
The proper response to hearing Kāśī’s greatness is joyful resolve and seeking guidance on the right path to reach the holy city.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), as a destination worthy of inquiry and effort.
No specific rite; the verse introduces the theme of asking for and receiving the ‘upāya’ (means) to reach Kāśī (pilgrimage guidance).