Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 99
परपीडाकरं कर्म काश्यां नित्यं विवर्जयेत् । तदेव चेत्किमत्र स्यात्काशीवासो दुरात्मनाम्
parapīḍākaraṃ karma kāśyāṃ nityaṃ vivarjayet | tadeva cetkimatra syātkāśīvāso durātmanām
Em Kāśī deve-se sempre evitar ações que causem sofrimento aos outros. Se aqui se pratica justamente esse dano, que benefício poderia trazer a morada em Kāśī aos de mente perversa?
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Scene: On a Kāśī lane near the ghats, a would-be resident raises a hand to harm another, but the looming presence of Śiva’s city—temple spire, trident banner, and the calm Gaṅgā—casts a moral spotlight; the aggressor’s shadow appears distorted, suggesting inner wickedness.
FAQs
The fruits of sacred residence depend on dharma; harming others cancels the purpose of living in Kāśī.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), as a dharma-sensitive mokṣa-kṣetra.
A clear behavioral prescription: avoid para-pīḍā (causing harm) while in Kāśī.