Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 5
पुर्यष्टकं च दुष्टेभ्यो देवध्रुग्भ्यो ह्यवंति ते । प्रयच्छंति वरान्नित्यं शिवभक्तजने वराः
puryaṣṭakaṃ ca duṣṭebhyo devadhrugbhyo hyavaṃti te | prayacchaṃti varānnityaṃ śivabhaktajane varāḥ
दुष्टेभ्यो देवध्रुग्भ्यश्च तेऽवन्ति पुर्यष्टकं सदा । शिवभक्तजनेभ्यश्च नित्यं वरान् प्रयच्छति वराः ॥
Gaṇas (continuing)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) – Aiśāna protective circuit implied
Type: kshetra
Scene: The eightfold city (pury-aṣṭaka) is shown as a sacred mandala with protective Śaiva guardians repelling dark, devaharming beings, while devotees receive boons.
FAQs
Śiva’s sacred city is not merely a place to visit—it is divinely guarded, and devotion attracts protective grace and boons.
The protected ‘eightfold city’ within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative (context of Kāśī and Īśāneśa).
None directly; the verse stresses bhakti as the basis for receiving boons.