Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 9
अकस्माद्वीक्षते यस्तु पुरुषं कृष्णपिंगलम् । तस्मिन्नेव क्षणेऽरूपं स जीवेद्वत्सरद्वयम्
akasmādvīkṣate yastu puruṣaṃ kṛṣṇapiṃgalam | tasminneva kṣaṇe'rūpaṃ sa jīvedvatsaradvayam
अकस्मात् कृष्णपिङ्गलं पुरुषं यो वीक्षते; तस्मिन्नेव क्षणेऽरूपेऽपि निमित्ते, स द्विवत्सरमेव जीवित इति कथ्यते।
Skanda
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (nimitta-nirdeśa within Kāśī)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A narrow Kāśī lane at twilight: a pilgrim suddenly sees a dark tawny-hued man (kṛṣṇa-piṅgala) who appears uncanny and then seems formless; the pilgrim’s face shows shock and inward turning toward renunciation.
FAQs
Omens are reminders to detach from negligence and to invest one’s remaining time in dharma and God-remembrance.
Kāśī is the background of the teaching; the text’s larger aim is to orient the listener toward liberation in the sacred city.
No ritual act is prescribed; the verse records an omen and its indicated remaining lifespan.