Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 18
अनंतो महिमा काश्याः कस्तं वर्णयितुं प्रभुः । विपत्तिमिच्छतो जंतोर्यत्रकर्णे जपः शिवः
anaṃto mahimā kāśyāḥ kastaṃ varṇayituṃ prabhuḥ | vipattimicchato jaṃtoryatrakarṇe japaḥ śivaḥ
अनन्तो महिमा काश्याः; कस्तं वर्णयितुं समर्थः? यत्र विपत्तिकालेऽपि जन्तोः कर्णे शिवो जपः (तारकः) उपदिश्यते।
Skanda (contextual attribution within Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogues)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A dying pilgrim in Kāśī on a simple cot near a ghāṭ; Śiva (as compassionate lord) leans close to whisper a mantra into the ear; attendants chant softly; Gaṅgā flows nearby.
FAQs
Kāśī is portrayed as a mokṣa-kṣetra where Śiva’s grace reaches even the dying through the liberating ear-whispered mantra.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), famed for liberation at death through Śiva’s special presence.
Karṇe-japa/karṇa-upadeśa—Śiva’s imparting of a mantra into the ear at the final moment (a salvation motif of Kāśī).