Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 12
पशुष्वपि च या तुष्टिर्मृगेष्वपि च या द्युतिः । तिर्यक्ष्वपि च या हृष्टिः काश्यां नान्यत्र सा स्फुटम्
paśuṣvapi ca yā tuṣṭirmṛgeṣvapi ca yā dyutiḥ | tiryakṣvapi ca yā hṛṣṭiḥ kāśyāṃ nānyatra sā sphuṭam
पशुष्वपि या तुष्टिः मृगेष्वपि या द्युतिः, तिर्यक्ष्वपि या हृष्टिः—सा काश्यां स्फुटं विद्यते, नान्यत्र।
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative typically Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Purāṇic audience (frame)
Scene: A panoramic Kāśī scene where cows rest peacefully, deer-like animals appear unafraid, birds glow in morning light, and people of all stations smile—suggesting an unseen aura of joy emanating from the kṣetra; Ganga and temple spires frame the harmony.
FAQs
Kāśī’s sanctity is so pervasive that it uplifts all beings—humans and animals alike—signifying the extraordinary merit (puṇya) of the place.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) as a uniquely grace-filled sacred landscape.
None explicitly; the emphasis is on the inherent Mahātmya (intrinsic spiritual power) of Kāśī.