Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 84
शूरः स एव स गुणी बुधः धन्यो मान्यः स एव कुलशील कलाकलापैः । एकः शुचिः स हि पुमान्सकलेपि लोके यत्रापतेत्तव शुभे करुणाकटाक्षः
śūraḥ sa eva sa guṇī budhaḥ dhanyo mānyaḥ sa eva kulaśīla kalākalāpaiḥ | ekaḥ śuciḥ sa hi pumānsakalepi loke yatrāpatettava śubhe karuṇākaṭākṣaḥ
Siya lamang ang tunay na bayani; siya lamang ang may kabutihan, karunungan, pagpapala at dangal—may marangal na angkan, mabuting asal, at lahat ng sining. Tunay na ang tanging dalisay na tao sa buong daigdig ay yaong binabagsakan, O mapalad na Diyosa, ng iyong mahabaging sulyap.
Agastya (stuti, contextually in Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative)
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: Lakṣmī’s compassionate side-glance falls upon a devotee; around him appear symbols of heroism, learning, arts, and purity—like a halo of accomplishments—showing they arise from her grace.
FAQs
True excellence—valor, wisdom, virtue, and honor—is ultimately perfected by the Goddess’s grace, not mere worldly effort.
The broader frame is Kāśī (Varanasi) in the Kāśīkhaṇḍa, where divine favor is portrayed as readily accessible through devotion.
None directly; the verse implies seeking Lakṣmī’s anugraha through worship and reverent praise.