Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 60
ये वसंतीह विश्वेश राजधान्यां द्विजोत्तम । क्षुद्राक्षुद्रा जंतुमात्रा विश्वेशां शास्त एव हि
ye vasaṃtīha viśveśa rājadhānyāṃ dvijottama | kṣudrākṣudrā jaṃtumātrā viśveśāṃ śāsta eva hi
Wahai brāhmaṇa yang utama, sesiapa sahaja yang tinggal di sini, di kota diraja Viśveśa—sama ada hina atau tidak hina, mana-mana makhluk sekalipun—Viśveśa sendirilah pelindung dan pembimbing mereka.
Caṇḍāla (continuing speech, contextual)
Tirtha: Viśveśvara-kṣetra (Kāśī)
Type: kshetra
Listener: dvijottama (addressed brāhmaṇa)
Scene: A panoramic Kāśī scene: diverse beings—brāhmaṇas, workers, outcastes, animals—living within the city, all sheltered by an unseen yet palpable Viśveśa presence, suggesting protective guidance over the whole kṣetra.
FAQs
In Kāśī, Viśveśa’s grace extends broadly—divine guardianship is not restricted by social rank.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), praised as the ‘royal city’ of Viśveśa.
No specific rite is prescribed here; the verse emphasizes the spiritual status and protection associated with residing in Kāśī.