Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 33
धुवं काश्यां प्रविष्टा ये ते प्रविष्टा ममोदरे । तेषां विनिर्गमो नास्ति दीप्तेग्नौ हविषामिव
dhuvaṃ kāśyāṃ praviṣṭā ye te praviṣṭā mamodare | teṣāṃ vinirgamo nāsti dīptegnau haviṣāmiva
یقیناً جو لوگ کاشی میں داخل ہوتے ہیں وہ میرے ہی شکم میں داخل ہوتے ہیں؛ اُن کے لیے پھر نکلنا نہیں—جیسے بھڑکتی آگ میں ڈالی ہوئی آہوتی۔
Viśveśa/Śiva (quoted within Skanda’s narration)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta/Vārāṇasī)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Pārvatī or the narratee within Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s frame (contextual)
Scene: A blazing sacrificial fire receives oblations; behind it, Kāśī’s ghāṭs and Viśveśvara’s presence are suggested as the cosmic ‘belly’ of Śiva absorbing pilgrims beyond return.
FAQs
Kāśī is portrayed as a liberating realm held within Śiva himself; entering it signifies spiritual absorption and protection.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), exalted as a mokṣa-kṣetra intimately identified with Śiva.
No explicit ritual; the verse emphasizes the metaphysical consequence of entering Kāśī.