Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 64
कृतभूति तनुत्राणं शिवमंत्रैर्नरोत्तमम् । नोपसर्पंति नियतमपि हिंस्राः समंततः
kṛtabhūti tanutrāṇaṃ śivamaṃtrairnarottamam | nopasarpaṃti niyatamapi hiṃsrāḥ samaṃtataḥ
शिवमन्त्रैः संस्कृता विभूतिः कृतभूतिः शरीरस्य तनुत्राणं भवति; तां धारयन्तं नरोत्तमं समन्ततोऽपि हिंस्राः प्राणिनो नित्यं नोपसर्पन्ति।
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa context, typically Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A devoted man in Kāśī, body marked with consecrated vibhūti, stands fearless as shadowy violent beings recoil at a distance; the aura of Śiva-mantra forms an unseen protective circle.
FAQs
Śiva-bhakti expressed through mantra and vibhūti becomes both spiritual merit and tangible protection from harmful forces.
The Kāśī narrative context leads into a tīrtha-māhātmya connected with liberation from piśāca-state (Piśācamocana), though this verse focuses on vibhūti’s protective power.
Applying vibhūti (sacred ash) while sanctifying it with Śiva-mantras.