Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 42
तावद्गर्जंति पापानि तावद्गर्जेद्यमो नृपः । यावद्विश्वेशशरणं नरो न निरतो व्रजेत्
tāvadgarjaṃti pāpāni tāvadgarjedyamo nṛpaḥ | yāvadviśveśaśaraṇaṃ naro na nirato vrajet
Лишь до тех пор рычат грехи, и лишь до тех пор рычит царь Яма — пока человек не станет преданно стремиться к прибежищу у Вишвеши (Вишвешвары).
Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda speaking to Agastya)
Tirtha: Viśveśvara (Kāśī)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Personified sins and Yama roar like lions at a distance, but their sound fades as a devotee steps under the protective aura of Viśveśvara’s shrine.
FAQs
Fear and guilt lose their power when one sincerely takes refuge in Viśveśvara; devotion transforms destiny.
Viśveśvara of Kāśī is central—Kāśī is portrayed as the city where Yama’s authority is eclipsed by Śiva’s grace.
The practical prescription is śaraṇāgati—committed refuge and devotion to Viśveśvara (often expressed through darśana, japa, worship in Kāśī).