Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 61
विना शिवप्रसादं हि भ्रांतिः क्वापि न नश्यति । अतएव भ्रमंत्येते भ्रमराः शिववर्जिताः
vinā śivaprasādaṃ hi bhrāṃtiḥ kvāpi na naśyati | ataeva bhramaṃtyete bhramarāḥ śivavarjitāḥ
ਸ਼ਿਵ ਦੀ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਤੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕਿਤੇ ਵੀ ਸੱਚਮੁੱਚ ਨਾਸ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦਾ। ਇਸ ਲਈ ਜੋ ਸ਼ਿਵ ਤੋਂ ਵੰਜੇ ਹਨ, ਉਹ ‘ਭ੍ਰਮਰ’ ਵਾਂਗ ਭਟਕਦੇ ਹੀ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ।
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī/Avimukta
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka and ṛṣis
Scene: Pilgrims wander in circles like bees around flowers, while a serene Śiva presence (symbolized by liṅga/light) remains distant to those lacking devotion; a devotee receives a ray of grace dispelling fog-like delusion.
FAQs
Lasting freedom from delusion arises from Śiva’s grace; without it, beings remain restless and confused.
Kāśī’s Śaiva framework is implied: the kṣetra is a locus of Śiva’s grace, contrasted with the state of being ‘Śiva-less’.
No specific rite is named; the implied prescription is to seek Śiva’s prasāda through sincere bhakti and śivārcana.