Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 33
स्कंद उवाच । इल्वलारे कथामेकां शृणुष्वावहितो भव । वरणायास्तटे रम्ये यद्वृत्त पूर्वमुत्तमम्
skaṃda uvāca | ilvalāre kathāmekāṃ śṛṇuṣvāvahito bhava | varaṇāyāstaṭe ramye yadvṛtta pūrvamuttamam
ସ୍କନ୍ଦ କହିଲେ—ହେ ଇଲ୍ୱଲାର, ଗୋଟିଏ କଥା ଶୁଣ; ସାବଧାନ ହୋଇ ଶୁଣ। ବରଣାର ରମ୍ୟ ତଟରେ ପୂର୍ବକାଳରେ ଯେ ଉତ୍ତମ ଘଟଣା ଘଟିଥିଲା, ତାହା ଶୁଣ।
Skanda
Tirtha: Varaṇā-taṭa (kathā-pravṛtti-sthāna)
Type: ghat
Listener: Ilvalāra
Scene: Skanda, radiant and youthful, addresses Ilvalāra, inviting attentive listening to an ancient event that took place on the beautiful bank of the Varaṇā.
FAQs
Sacred places are illuminated through remembered holy history; attentive listening (śravaṇa) becomes a doorway to understanding the kṣetra’s greatness.
Varaṇā-tīra—the auspicious riverbank within Kāśī.
No external ritual is prescribed; the instruction is śravaṇa—listening attentively to the kṣetra’s sacred account.