Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 11
नमोस्तु तुभ्यं प्रणतार्तिहंत्रे कर्त्रे समस्तस्य मनोरथानाम् । दात्रे रथानां परतारकस्य हंत्रे प्रचंडासुर तारकस्य
namostu tubhyaṃ praṇatārtihaṃtre kartre samastasya manorathānām | dātre rathānāṃ paratārakasya haṃtre pracaṃḍāsura tārakasya
آپ کو نمسکار—اے جھکے ہوئے بھکتوں کی تکلیف دور کرنے والے؛ سب جائز آرزوؤں کے پورا کرنے والے کرتار؛ اعلیٰ نجات دہندہ کے لیے دیوی رتھ عطا کرنے والے داتا؛ اور سخت گیر اسُر تارک کے قاتل۔
Agastya
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (protective invocation)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Skanda stands as the compassionate protector, one hand in abhaya, another holding spear; behind him a faint vision of Tārakāsura’s defeat; Agastya bows, while a celestial chariot motif glimmers as a symbol of deliverance.
FAQs
Humility and surrender remove suffering; the divine also protects dharma by destroying oppressive forces.
Kāśī is the narrative setting; the verse contributes to Kāśī’s devotional atmosphere where stotra and darśana are extolled.
No direct rite is stated; the implied practice is praṇāma (prostration) and prayerful praise.