Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 1
स्कंद उवाच । शृण्वगस्त्यमहाभाग स च राजा भगीरथः । आराध्य श्रीमहादेवमुद्दिधीर्षुः पितामहान्
skaṃda uvāca | śṛṇvagastyamahābhāga sa ca rājā bhagīrathaḥ | ārādhya śrīmahādevamuddidhīrṣuḥ pitāmahān
سکند نے کہا: سنو، اے بزرگ و نیک بخت اگستیہ! وہ راجا بھگیرت اپنے آباؤ اجداد کی نجات کے ارادے سے شری مہادیو کی عبادت و ارادھنا کرتا رہا۔
Skanda
Tirtha: Kāśī (contextual frame)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Agastya
Scene: Skanda narrates to Agastya: King Bhagīratha in austere posture worships Mahādeva, intent on rescuing his forefathers; the mood is solemn, vow-filled, and devotional.
FAQs
Deliverance of ancestors is achieved through devotion and austerity directed to Śiva.
The narrative is steering toward Kāśī and Maṇikarṇikā as the key sacred locus connected with Gaṅgā.
Ārādhana (propitiatory worship) of Mahādeva for pitṛ-upliftment.