Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 80
यदाहुस्तारकं ज्ञानं यदाहुरतिनिर्मलम् । स्वात्मारामं यदाहुश्च तत्तत्रांते दिशाम्यहम्
yadāhustārakaṃ jñānaṃ yadāhuratinirmalam | svātmārāmaṃ yadāhuśca tattatrāṃte diśāmyaham
ਜਿਸ ਗਿਆਨ ਨੂੰ ਉਹ ‘ਤਾਰਕ’ ਕਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ—ਜੋ ਪਾਰ ਲੰਘਾ ਦੇਂਦਾ ਹੈ—ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਉਹ ਅਤਿ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਆਖਦੇ ਹਨ, ਅਤੇ ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਉਹ ਕੇਵਲ ਸਵ-ਆਤਮਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਮਣ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਦੱਸਦੇ ਹਨ—ਉਹੀ ਮੈਂ ਉੱਥੇ, ਅੰਤਿਮ ਪਰਿਣਤੀ ਵਿੱਚ, ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ।
Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (Tāraka-jñāna revelation)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Seekers/pilgrims within the Kāśī-khaṇḍa narrative frame
Scene: Śiva as compassionate teacher revealing a subtle ‘tāraka’ light/word to a departing soul or to a meditating seeker in Kāśī; the river and cremation-ghāṭ silhouette in the distance.
FAQs
Liberation is linked to ‘tāraka’ knowledge—pure, self-abiding realization that ferries the soul beyond saṃsāra.
Kāśī is the implied sacred setting where this tāraka knowledge is disclosed.
No specific rite is named; the verse highlights the liberating power of jñāna (spiritual knowledge).