Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 86
मरणादपि नो काश्यां भयं यत्र मनागपि । गणास्तत्र तु तिष्ठंतः कुतो मत्तोपि बिभ्यति
maraṇādapi no kāśyāṃ bhayaṃ yatra manāgapi | gaṇāstatra tu tiṣṭhaṃtaḥ kuto mattopi bibhyati
काशीत मृत्यूचाही किंचित् भय नाही। जिथे स्वयं दिव्य गण वास करतात, तिथे माझ्यापासूनही त्यांना भय कसे वाटेल?
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue tradition, often Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Avimukta-Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Scene: A luminous Kāśī cityscape with Śiva’s gaṇas stationed at thresholds and ghāṭas, radiating fearlessness; a subtle personification of Death kept at bay at the kṣetra boundary.
FAQs
Kāśī is portrayed as a realm of fearlessness where even death loses its terror due to Śiva’s protective presence.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), revered as Śiva’s city and the foremost mokṣa-kṣetra.
No explicit ritual is prescribed; the verse emphasizes the inherent sanctity and protective power of residing in Kāśī.