Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 95
जलाशयानां सर्वेषां प्रतीच्याश्चापि वैदिशः । अधीश्वरः पाशपाणिर्भव सर्वामरप्रियः
jalāśayānāṃ sarveṣāṃ pratīcyāścāpi vaidiśaḥ | adhīśvaraḥ pāśapāṇirbhava sarvāmarapriyaḥ
அனைத்து நீர்நிலைகளுக்கும் அதிபதியாகு; மேலும் மேற்கு திசையின் காவலனாகவும் இரு— கையில் பாசம் ஏந்தியவனே, எல்லாத் தேவர்களுக்கும் பிரியமானவனாகு.
Śiva (continuing grant)
Tirtha: Varuṇeśa (contextual, introduced by boon)
Type: kshetra (liṅga-sthāna within Kāśī)
Scene: A boon-bestowing deity addresses Varuṇa: he holds a pāśa (noose), is adored by devas, and is installed as lord over all reservoirs and guardian of the west—suggesting a regal investiture.
FAQs
Authority in the cosmos is portrayed as dharmic guardianship—protecting realms and beings under divine command.
The Kāśī setting underlies the episode, culminating in a Kāśī liṅga’s fame (Varuṇeśvara).
No ritual instruction appears; the verse confers roles and iconographic identity (pāśapāṇi).