Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 86
मरणादपि नो काश्यां भयं यत्र मनागपि । गणास्तत्र तु तिष्ठंतः कुतो मत्तोपि बिभ्यति
maraṇādapi no kāśyāṃ bhayaṃ yatra manāgapi | gaṇāstatra tu tiṣṭhaṃtaḥ kuto mattopi bibhyati
کاشی میں موت کا بھی ذرا سا خوف نہیں۔ جہاں خود الٰہی گن ٹھہرے ہوں، وہاں وہ مجھ سے بھی کیسے ڈر سکتے ہیں؟
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue tradition, often Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Avimukta-Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Scene: A luminous Kāśī cityscape with Śiva’s gaṇas stationed at thresholds and ghāṭas, radiating fearlessness; a subtle personification of Death kept at bay at the kṣetra boundary.
FAQs
Kāśī is portrayed as a realm of fearlessness where even death loses its terror due to Śiva’s protective presence.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), revered as Śiva’s city and the foremost mokṣa-kṣetra.
No explicit ritual is prescribed; the verse emphasizes the inherent sanctity and protective power of residing in Kāśī.