Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 23
चरणौ विचरेतांयौ विश्वभर्तृ पुरी भुवि । तावेव श्रवणौ श्रोतुं संविदा ते बहुश्रुतौ
caraṇau vicaretāṃyau viśvabhartṛ purī bhuvi | tāveva śravaṇau śrotuṃ saṃvidā te bahuśrutau
ਧਰਤੀ ਉੱਤੇ ਵਿਸ਼ਵ-ਭਰਤਾ ਦੀ ਪੁਰੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਭਟਕਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਉਹੀ ਚਰਨ ਯੋਗ ਹਨ। ਅਤੇ ਉਹੀ ਕਾਨ ਸੁਣਨ ਯੋਗ ਹਨ—ਸੱਚਮੁੱਚ ਬਹੁ-ਸ਼੍ਰੁਤ—ਜੋ ਸਮਝ-ਬੂਝ ਨਾਲ ਸੁਣਦੇ ਹਨ।
Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa context: Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Viśvabhartṛ-purī)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A pilgrim walks through Kāśī’s lanes toward temples while simultaneously listening to a learned reciter explaining the kṣetra’s meaning; ears and feet are symbolically highlighted.
FAQs
True merit lies in using body and senses for dharma: walking the sacred city and hearing sacred teaching with understanding.
Kāśī, described as the earthly city of the universe’s sustainer (Śiva).
Implied disciplines: pilgrimage-walking in Kāśī and śravaṇa (listening) to sacred discourse with attentive comprehension.