Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 6
ये च शक्तिं न मन्यंते तिरस्कुर्वंति चाधमाः । योगीन्द्रा अपि ते व्यक्तं भ्रश्यंते काशिजा यथा
ye ca śaktiṃ na manyaṃte tiraskurvaṃti cādhamāḥ | yogīndrā api te vyaktaṃ bhraśyaṃte kāśijā yathā
சக்தியை ஏற்காமல் அவளை இகழும் கீழ்மக்கள், ‘யோகீந்திரர்’ என்றாலும் நிச்சயமாக வீழ்வர்; காசியில் ஒருகாலத்தில் நடந்ததுபோல்।
Nārada (continuing narration)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Scene: A didactic scene on the ghats of Kashi: proud ascetics/yogins disparage Devi; their yogic radiance dims and they stumble from their seat, while sincere devotees offer lamps to Devi-Shakti; the city’s sacred skyline watches silently.
FAQs
Spiritual attainment is undermined by contempt for the Divine Feminine; reverence is essential to sustain yogic progress.
Kāśī (Varanasi) is referenced as an illustrative setting for a cautionary example.
Implicit prescription: do not disparage Śakti; maintain worshipful respect (upacāra/bhakti).