Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 55
अन्यथा ताश्च योगिन्यः सरविः सपितामहः । ते गणा मां परित्यज्य कथं तिष्ठेयुरन्यतः
anyathā tāśca yoginyaḥ saraviḥ sapitāmahaḥ | te gaṇā māṃ parityajya kathaṃ tiṣṭheyuranyataḥ
ورنہ وہ یوگنیاں—اور سورج دیوتا اور پِتامہ برہما بھی—وہ گن مجھے چھوڑ کر کہیں اور کیسے ٹھہر سکتے ہیں؟
Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context; first-person ‘mām’)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Listener: Internal Kāśīkhaṇḍa interlocutor (contextual)
Scene: A cosmic tableau over Kāśī: Sūrya’s chariot halts in reverence, Brahmā bows, yoginīs stand in a protective circle, and gaṇas keep watch—signaling that none can abandon Shiva’s seat.
FAQs
Kāśī’s greatness is affirmed by the unwavering presence of divine powers; they do not depart from that sacred center.
Kāśī/Vārāṇasī, implied as the place from which these beings would not choose to stay away.
No explicit rite; the verse strengthens faith in Kāśī’s unique, abiding divinity.