Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 12
पशुष्वपि च या तुष्टिर्मृगेष्वपि च या द्युतिः । तिर्यक्ष्वपि च या हृष्टिः काश्यां नान्यत्र सा स्फुटम्
paśuṣvapi ca yā tuṣṭirmṛgeṣvapi ca yā dyutiḥ | tiryakṣvapi ca yā hṛṣṭiḥ kāśyāṃ nānyatra sā sphuṭam
Ang kasiyahang natatagpuan kahit sa mga baka, ang ningning na nakikita kahit sa mababangis na hayop, at ang galak na naroroon kahit sa mga nilalang na mababa ang kapanganakan—ang mga ito’y malinaw na nasa Kāśī at wala sa iba pang dako.
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative typically Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Purāṇic audience (frame)
Scene: A panoramic Kāśī scene where cows rest peacefully, deer-like animals appear unafraid, birds glow in morning light, and people of all stations smile—suggesting an unseen aura of joy emanating from the kṣetra; Ganga and temple spires frame the harmony.
FAQs
Kāśī’s sanctity is so pervasive that it uplifts all beings—humans and animals alike—signifying the extraordinary merit (puṇya) of the place.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) as a uniquely grace-filled sacred landscape.
None explicitly; the emphasis is on the inherent Mahātmya (intrinsic spiritual power) of Kāśī.