Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 22
कृतधीभ्योपि कर्तारः कर्तृभ्यो ब्रह्मतत्पराः । न तेषामर्चनीयोऽन्यस्त्रिषु लोकेषु कुंभज
kṛtadhībhyopi kartāraḥ kartṛbhyo brahmatatparāḥ | na teṣāmarcanīyo'nyastriṣu lokeṣu kuṃbhaja
کامل فہم والوں سے بھی بلند وہ ہیں جو دھرم کو عمل میں لاتے ہیں؛ اور عمل کرنے والوں سے بھی بلند وہ ہیں جو سراسر برہمن کے لیے یکسو ہیں۔ اے کمبھج، تینوں لوکوں میں ان کے لیے کوئی اور لائقِ عبادت نہیں۔
Skanda
Tirtha: Avimukta-kṣetra (Kāśī)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Kumbhaja (Agastya)
Scene: A realized devotee stands before a simple liṅga (Viśveśvara) with unwavering gaze; other deities and worldly attractions fade into the background, while a radiant Brahman-light fills the scene; the sage addresses Kumbhaja nearby.
FAQs
It ranks spiritual excellence: mature understanding, dharmic action, and finally unwavering devotion to Brahman as the highest attainment.
Kāśī is the doctrinal backdrop: the city of liberation where Brahman-realization is treated as the summit.
Worship (arcana) is referenced negatively: for the Brahman-devoted, no other object of worship is considered higher or necessary.