Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 65
मनोरथा न सिद्ध्येयुः सिद्धा नश्यंत्यपि ध्रुवम् । खलानां तेन कुशलि विश्वं विश्वेशरक्षितम्
manorathā na siddhyeyuḥ siddhā naśyaṃtyapi dhruvam | khalānāṃ tena kuśali viśvaṃ viśveśarakṣitam
แผนการของคนพาลย่อมไม่สำเร็จ; แม้สำเร็จก็ย่อมพินาศแน่ ดังนั้นโลกจึงเกษมศานต์ เพราะได้รับการคุ้มครองจากพระวิศเวศะ ผู้เป็นเจ้าแห่งสากล
Vyāsa (narrative voice; speaker not explicitly marked in this verse)
Tirtha: Viśveśa-kṣetra (Kāśī)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka and sages (frame assumed; not explicit in verse)
Scene: Viśveśa as a radiant liṅga or enthroned Śiva presides over Kāśī; shadowy figures representing wicked schemes dissolve or crumble, while the city and devotees remain safe.
FAQs
Adharma cannot ultimately prevail; the Lord (Viśveśa) safeguards cosmic and moral order.
Indirectly Kāśī, through the name Viśveśa/Viśvanātha—Śiva’s supreme form especially revered in Vārāṇasī.
None explicitly; the verse is theological, affirming Śiva’s protection.