Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 9
न चित्रमत्र भूदेव भवमाया दुरत्यया । तया संमोहिताः सर्वे नावयंत्यपि तं परम्
na citramatra bhūdeva bhavamāyā duratyayā | tayā saṃmohitāḥ sarve nāvayaṃtyapi taṃ param
اے بھودیو! اس میں کوئی تعجب نہیں؛ بھَو (شیو) کی مایا نہایت دشوار گزار ہے۔ اسی مایا کے فریب میں مبتلا ہو کر سبھی ہستیاں اُس پرم تَتّو کو بھی نہیں جان پاتیں۔
Skanda (contextual)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta) as a grace-field to cross māyā
Type: kshetra
Listener: Addressed as ‘bhūdeva’ (divine sage)
Scene: A sage is addressed: the world appears veiled by a shimmering curtain (māyā), while beyond it a steady, formless radiance indicates the Supreme; Skanda points toward the unseen reality.
FAQs
Delusion is not merely ignorance; it is māyā that veils the Supreme, overcome through grace and right knowledge.
Indirectly Kāśī, as the chapter’s setting, where teachings on Śiva’s supreme nature are given.
None stated; the verse emphasizes inner discernment beyond māyā.