Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 16
अरिष्टं गच्छ पंथास्ते शुभोदर्को भवत्वलम् । आदायाज्ञां विधि मूर्ध्नि ययौ वाराणसीं मुदा
ariṣṭaṃ gaccha paṃthāste śubhodarko bhavatvalam | ādāyājñāṃ vidhi mūrdhni yayau vārāṇasīṃ mudā
“Pergilah dengan selamat—semoga perjalananmu bebas daripada mara bahaya dan berakhir dengan keberkatan.” Setelah menerima titah itu di atas kepala dengan penuh takzim, Vidhi pun berangkat ke Vārāṇasī dengan sukacita.
Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa context: Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Vārāṇasī/Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Listener: Vidhi/Brahmā
Scene: A blessing is spoken for safe travel; Brahmā receives the command with reverence (touching it to the head) and departs joyfully toward Kāśī.
FAQs
Pilgrimage to Kāśī is portrayed as divinely sanctioned and inherently auspicious when undertaken with reverence.
Vārāṇasī/Kāśī as the destination of the cosmic creator, highlighting its supreme sanctity.
No explicit ritual; the emphasis is on receiving divine permission and proceeding with श्रद्धा (reverent intent).