Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 25
इति तिष्ठति पिंगाक्षे साटवी नगरायिता । अध्वनीने ऽध्वगान्कोपि न रुणद्धि ससाध्वसः
iti tiṣṭhati piṃgākṣe sāṭavī nagarāyitā | adhvanīne 'dhvagānkopi na ruṇaddhi sasādhvasaḥ
یوں، اے پِنگاکش، وہ جنگل گویا شہر بن گیا۔ اس شاہراہ پر کوئی مسافروں کو نہ روکتا تھا، نہ کوئی خوف میں مبتلا رہتا تھا۔
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Āviṃdhyāṭavī (route-kshetra)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Piṅgākṣa (vocative)
Scene: A once-dark forest now shows lamps, shelters, and orderly movement like a town; travelers walk unimpeded on a broad road; the atmosphere is calm and fearless.
FAQs
When dharma protects the vulnerable, even wilderness turns into a ‘city’—a symbol of safety and civilization.
The Kāśī pilgrimage landscape is implied, especially the routes and forests connected to tīrtha-travel.
None explicitly; the verse praises social dharma—ensuring safe passage for pilgrims.