Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 85
तं विदंति वसिष्ठाद्यास्तवार्त्विज्यं भजंति ये । एको रुद्रो न द्वितीयः संविदाना अपीति हि
taṃ vidaṃti vasiṣṭhādyāstavārtvijyaṃ bhajaṃti ye | eko rudro na dvitīyaḥ saṃvidānā apīti hi
เหล่าฤๅษีเช่นวสิษฐะผู้รับการเป็นปุโรหิตของท่าน ย่อมรู้พระองค์โดยแท้; เพราะผู้รู้แจ้งประกาศว่า “รุทระมีหนึ่งเดียว ไม่มีที่สอง”
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa context, typically Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Viśveśvara (Kāśī) (doctrinal focus)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Purāṇic audience (not explicit)
Scene: A calm assembly of Vasiṣṭha and other ṛṣis performing priestly functions, their faces serene with realization, while the declaration ‘Eko Rudraḥ’ is visually suggested as a luminous, singular liṅga or all-pervading Śiva-presence behind them.
FAQs
The highest truth is the oneness and supremacy of Rudra/Śiva, recognized by realized sages.
Kāśī’s Viśveśvara is implied as that one Rudra; the verse supports the theology behind Kāśī’s greatness.
It references ṛtvij (priestly) participation in sacrifices, emphasizing that ritual finds its ultimate grounding in Śiva.