Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 94
काशीं यः सेवते जंतुर्निर्विकल्पेन चेतसा । तमहं हृदये नित्यं धारयामि प्रयत्नतः
kāśīṃ yaḥ sevate jaṃturnirvikalpena cetasā | tamahaṃ hṛdaye nityaṃ dhārayāmi prayatnataḥ
Makhluk yang berkhidmat kepada Kāśī dengan hati yang tidak berbelah-bagi dan fikiran yang teguh—dia Aku pegang dalam hati-Ku setiap masa, dengan penuh kesungguhan.
Śiva (deduced from first-person devotion-reciprocation motif typical of Śiva’s Kāśī-māhātmya)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Kāśī-sevakas and pilgrims
Scene: A focused pilgrim performs simple service at a Kāśī shrine with unwavering gaze; above, Śiva is shown with a heart-lotus containing the devotee—signifying ‘I hold him in my heart’.
FAQs
Single-pointed devotion to Kāśī draws intimate divine regard—Śiva ‘keeps’ such a devotee in his heart.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), as the focus of steadfast service and contemplation.
Sevā performed with nirvikalpa-citta (undistracted, resolute mind).