Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 6
उवाच च प्रसन्नात्मा पुंडरीकविलोचनः । अगण्या अपि वैकुंठ गुणा विगणिता मया
uvāca ca prasannātmā puṃḍarīkavilocanaḥ | agaṇyā api vaikuṃṭha guṇā vigaṇitā mayā
அப்போது மனம் மகிழ்ந்த தாமரைக்கண்ணன் அருளினான்— “ஓ வைகுண்டா! உன் நற்குணங்கள் எண்ணிலடங்காதவை; ஆயினும் நான் அவற்றை எண்ணியதுபோல் கூறினேன்।”
Skanda (narrator); the quoted speaker within the narrative is Puṇḍarīkavilocana (Viṣṇu)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Vaikuṇṭha (addressed)
Scene: A serene, lotus-eyed Lord speaks in measured praise, contrasting Vaikuṇṭha’s innumerable guṇas with the counted ‘victories’ of Kāśī; the setting hints at sacred discourse rather than battle—radiant aura, calm gestures, attentive listener.
FAQs
Even the highest divine abodes and virtues are invoked to frame Kāśī’s tīrtha-glory through a language of reverent comparison.
The verse prepares for the glorification of Kāśī’s Pañcanada, by contrasting it with Vaikuṇṭha’s excellences.
None; it introduces a praise-filled discourse that supports the māhātmya theme.