Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 5
पुर्यष्टकं च दुष्टेभ्यो देवध्रुग्भ्यो ह्यवंति ते । प्रयच्छंति वरान्नित्यं शिवभक्तजने वराः
puryaṣṭakaṃ ca duṣṭebhyo devadhrugbhyo hyavaṃti te | prayacchaṃti varānnityaṃ śivabhaktajane varāḥ
Mereka melindungi kota yang berunsur lapan daripada orang jahat, para pendurhaka yang mencederai para dewa. Dan para mulia itu sentiasa mengurniakan anugerah kepada para bhakta Śiva.
Gaṇas (continuing)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) – Aiśāna protective circuit implied
Type: kshetra
Scene: The eightfold city (pury-aṣṭaka) is shown as a sacred mandala with protective Śaiva guardians repelling dark, devaharming beings, while devotees receive boons.
FAQs
Śiva’s sacred city is not merely a place to visit—it is divinely guarded, and devotion attracts protective grace and boons.
The protected ‘eightfold city’ within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative (context of Kāśī and Īśāneśa).
None directly; the verse stresses bhakti as the basis for receiving boons.