Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 20
अहो दुर्गबलं प्राज्ञाः शंसंत्येवेति हेतुतः । दुर्बलोप्याकलयितुं सहसारिर्न शक्यते
aho durgabalaṃ prājñāḥ śaṃsaṃtyeveti hetutaḥ | durbalopyākalayituṃ sahasārirna śakyate
“अहो! म्हणूनच ज्ञानी लोक दुर्गबळाची प्रशंसा करतात; कारण दुर्बलालाही सहसा आलेल्या शत्रूच्या आघाताने सहज जिंकता येत नाही।”
Skanda (narration of the hawk’s realization)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Sages (assumed)
Scene: The hawk, now reflective, looks upon the temple-fortress with a humbled posture; the temple appears massive and serene, with protective iconography (trident, bull emblem), suggesting that even the small find safety within.
FAQs
Sacred refuge (and dharmic shelter) can protect even the vulnerable from sudden harm.
Within the Kāśī-kṣetra frame, the ‘durga’ metaphor supports the greatness of Kāśī’s Śaiva sanctuaries as protectors.
None; it is a doctrinal-narrative statement on the power of protected sacred space.