Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 1
अगस्त्य उवाच । सर्वज्ञ हृदयानंद गौरीचुंबितमूर्धज । तारकांतक षड्वक्त्र तारिणे भद्रकारिणे
agastya uvāca | sarvajña hṛdayānaṃda gaurīcuṃbitamūrdhaja | tārakāṃtaka ṣaḍvaktra tāriṇe bhadrakāriṇe
अगस्त्य उवाच— सर्वज्ञ, हृदयानन्द, गौरीचुम्बितमूर्धज, तारकान्तक, षड्वक्त्र, तारिणे, भद्रकारिणे नमो नमः।
Agastya
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Skanda (addressed directly)
Scene: Sage Agastya stands with folded hands, addressing six-faced Skanda adorned with spear (śakti), while Pārvatī affectionately touches or ‘kisses’ his head; the aura suggests protection and auspiciousness.
FAQs
Reverent praise (stuti) prepares the listener for sacred instruction and acknowledges the deity as savior and giver of auspiciousness.
Not a specific tīrtha in this verse; it introduces the Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue that will discuss Kāśī’s sacred places.
No ritual is prescribed; it is a devotional invocation and praise.