Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 35
स्वमौलौ स्वतनौ वापि यः पश्येत्स्वप्नगो नरः । तृणानि शुष्ककाष्ठानि षष्ठे मासि न तिष्ठति
svamaulau svatanau vāpi yaḥ paśyetsvapnago naraḥ | tṛṇāni śuṣkakāṣṭhāni ṣaṣṭhe māsi na tiṣṭhati
स्वमौलौ स्वतनौ वापि स्वप्नस्थो नरः तृणानि शुष्ककाष्ठानि पश्येत् चेत्, स षष्ठे मासि न तिष्ठति—मृत्युलक्षणम्।
Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda speaking to Agastya)
FAQs
Recognizing life’s uncertainty, one should turn quickly toward dharma and refuge in Śiva at Kāśī rather than delaying spiritual practice.
The wider passage belongs to Kāśīkhaṇḍa, oriented toward Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) and Viśveśvara as the ultimate refuge beyond Yama’s fear.
No direct ritual is prescribed in this verse; it functions as a warning-sign (kālacihna) prompting immediate sādhana and seeking Kāśī/Viśveśvara.