Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 43
ततः शिवस्तं तपसातिखिन्नं निवार्य ताभ्यः प्रणतिभ्य ईश्वरः । वरान्ददौ सप्ततुरंगसूनवे त्वं धर्मराजो भव नामतोपि
tataḥ śivastaṃ tapasātikhinnaṃ nivārya tābhyaḥ praṇatibhya īśvaraḥ | varāndadau saptaturaṃgasūnave tvaṃ dharmarājo bhava nāmatopi
پھر بھگوان شیو نے اسے، جو تپسیا سے نہایت نڈھال ہو چکا تھا، روک دیا؛ اور ان پرناموں سے خوش ہو کر سات گھوڑوں والے (سورج) کے بیٹے کو ور دیے: “تو دھرم راج بن—نام سے بھی یہی ہو۔”
Skanda (narrating); direct speech by Śiva within the verse
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Śiva, compassionate yet majestic, raises the exhausted ascetic-devotee, halting his harsh tapas, and bestows a boon—appointing him as Dharmarāja.
FAQs
Austerity becomes fruitful when tempered by devotion and surrender; divine grace can transform a seeker into a cosmic steward of dharma.
The Kāśīkhaṇḍa setting continues, but the verse centers on Śiva’s boon and cosmic appointment rather than a particular Kāśī tīrtha.
No new prescription; it highlights tapas and repeated praṇāma as devotion that draws Śiva’s boon.