Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 9
सुसिद्धमपि वै कार्यं सुबुद्ध्यापि स्वनुष्ठितम् । अत्वत्पदस्मृतिकृतं विनश्यत्येव तत्क्षणात्
susiddhamapi vai kāryaṃ subuddhyāpi svanuṣṭhitam | atvatpadasmṛtikṛtaṃ vinaśyatyeva tatkṣaṇāt
സുബുദ്ധിയോടെ ശരിയായി നിര്വഹിച്ച, നന്നായി സിദ്ധമായ കാര്യവും—നിന്റെ പാദസ്മരണം കൂടാതെ ചെയ്താല്—അന്നേ ക്ഷണത്തില് നശിക്കുന്നു।
Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Ṛṣis / pilgrims within Kāśī discourse (contextual)
Scene: A scholar-priest performs an elaborate rite flawlessly, yet the offering fades like smoke because the heart lacks Śiva-smaraṇa; beside him, a simple devotee’s small offering shines.
FAQs
Skill and effort alone are insufficient; devotion and God-remembrance are the true stabilizers of dharma and success.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), as the doctrinal backdrop of Kāśīkhaṇḍa, where Śiva-centered practice is emphasized.
Undertake duties and rites with constant remembrance of Śiva’s feet; otherwise the merit is said to collapse.