Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 25
कलावानेक एवास्ति त्रिदिवेपि दिवौकसाम् । तस्य क्षोणिभृतः क्षोण्यां जनाः सर्वे कलालयाः
kalāvāneka evāsti tridivepi divaukasām | tasya kṣoṇibhṛtaḥ kṣoṇyāṃ janāḥ sarve kalālayāḥ
แม้ในสวรรค์สามชั้น ท่ามกลางเหล่าเทวะก็มีเพียงผู้เดียวที่ทรงความเลิศด้วยศิลป์คุณแท้จริง; แต่บนแผ่นดิน ภายใต้พระราชาผู้ทรงแบกภาระแห่งปฐพี ปวงชนทั้งหลายล้วนเป็นที่สถิตแห่งความสำเร็จและสิทธิ์
Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa context typically Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśīkṣetra (Avimukta)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka and the Naimiṣāraṇya sages (frame; not explicit here)
Scene: A panegyric tableau: Kāśī as a radiant city on the Gaṅgā, with a dharmic king/guardian bearing the ‘burden of the land’ while citizens shine as accomplished, auspicious figures; above, a subdued svarga contrasts with Kāśī’s splendor.
FAQs
Kāśī’s dharmic order is portrayed as so elevating that ordinary people can embody excellence, surpassing even celestial exclusivity.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) is implied as the sanctified realm where righteous governance and sacred atmosphere uplift society.
No explicit ritual is prescribed here; the emphasis is on the merit (puṇya) of dharmic life and rule within Kāśī.