Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 18
अनंतो महिमा काश्याः कस्तं वर्णयितुं प्रभुः । विपत्तिमिच्छतो जंतोर्यत्रकर्णे जपः शिवः
anaṃto mahimā kāśyāḥ kastaṃ varṇayituṃ prabhuḥ | vipattimicchato jaṃtoryatrakarṇe japaḥ śivaḥ
காசியின் மகிமை அளவற்றது—அதை யார் வர்ணிக்க வல்லவர்? அங்கே பேராபத்து (மரணம்) நேரத்திலும் உயிரின் காதில் சிவனின் தாரக-ஜபம் மந்திரமாகச் சொல்லப்படுகிறது।
Skanda (contextual attribution within Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogues)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A dying pilgrim in Kāśī on a simple cot near a ghāṭ; Śiva (as compassionate lord) leans close to whisper a mantra into the ear; attendants chant softly; Gaṅgā flows nearby.
FAQs
Kāśī is portrayed as a mokṣa-kṣetra where Śiva’s grace reaches even the dying through the liberating ear-whispered mantra.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), famed for liberation at death through Śiva’s special presence.
Karṇe-japa/karṇa-upadeśa—Śiva’s imparting of a mantra into the ear at the final moment (a salvation motif of Kāśī).