Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 22
कृतधीभ्योपि कर्तारः कर्तृभ्यो ब्रह्मतत्पराः । न तेषामर्चनीयोऽन्यस्त्रिषु लोकेषु कुंभज
kṛtadhībhyopi kartāraḥ kartṛbhyo brahmatatparāḥ | na teṣāmarcanīyo'nyastriṣu lokeṣu kuṃbhaja
कृतधींपेक्षाही धर्मकर्म करणारे कर्ते श्रेष्ठ; कर्त्यांपेक्षा ब्रह्मतत्पर जन अधिक श्रेष्ठ. हे कुंभज, त्रिलोकीत त्यांच्या साठी अन्य कोणताही आराध्य नाही.
Skanda
Tirtha: Avimukta-kṣetra (Kāśī)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Kumbhaja (Agastya)
Scene: A realized devotee stands before a simple liṅga (Viśveśvara) with unwavering gaze; other deities and worldly attractions fade into the background, while a radiant Brahman-light fills the scene; the sage addresses Kumbhaja nearby.
FAQs
It ranks spiritual excellence: mature understanding, dharmic action, and finally unwavering devotion to Brahman as the highest attainment.
Kāśī is the doctrinal backdrop: the city of liberation where Brahman-realization is treated as the summit.
Worship (arcana) is referenced negatively: for the Brahman-devoted, no other object of worship is considered higher or necessary.