Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 17
स्थैर्यं बबंध न क्वापि भ्रमतो मे मनोगतिः । सर्वस्मिन्नपि भूभागे यथा स्थैर्यमगादिह
sthairyaṃ babaṃdha na kvāpi bhramato me manogatiḥ | sarvasminnapi bhūbhāge yathā sthairyamagādiha
بھٹکتے ہوئے میرے دل کی چال کہیں بھی ٹھہر نہ سکی؛ مگر یہاں (کاشی میں) اسے وہ استحکام ملا جو زمین کے کسی اور خطے میں کبھی نہ ملا تھا۔
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative typically Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī / Avimukta
Type: kshetra
Listener: Pilgrimage audience
Scene: A solitary pilgrim/ascetic seated on a Kāśī ghāṭ at sunrise, Ganga flowing steadily; the mind’s former restlessness shown as faint swirling motifs dissolving into calm; Viśveśvara temple silhouette in the background anchoring the scene.
FAQs
Kāśī is praised as a place where the mind naturally becomes steady—supporting dhyāna, vairāgya, and readiness for mokṣa.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), implicitly as a uniquely peace-giving sacred kṣetra.
None directly; the verse implies contemplative practice (inner steadiness/meditation) is especially fruitful in Kāśī.