Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 9
सुसिद्धमपि वै कार्यं सुबुद्ध्यापि स्वनुष्ठितम् । अत्वत्पदस्मृतिकृतं विनश्यत्येव तत्क्षणात्
susiddhamapi vai kāryaṃ subuddhyāpi svanuṣṭhitam | atvatpadasmṛtikṛtaṃ vinaśyatyeva tatkṣaṇāt
بھلے ہی کوئی کام خوب قائم ہو اور اچھی سمجھ بوجھ سے درست طور پر انجام دیا گیا ہو، اگر وہ تیرے قدموں کی یاد کے بغیر کیا جائے تو وہ اسی لمحے برباد ہو جاتا ہے۔
Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Ṛṣis / pilgrims within Kāśī discourse (contextual)
Scene: A scholar-priest performs an elaborate rite flawlessly, yet the offering fades like smoke because the heart lacks Śiva-smaraṇa; beside him, a simple devotee’s small offering shines.
FAQs
Skill and effort alone are insufficient; devotion and God-remembrance are the true stabilizers of dharma and success.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), as the doctrinal backdrop of Kāśīkhaṇḍa, where Śiva-centered practice is emphasized.
Undertake duties and rites with constant remembrance of Śiva’s feet; otherwise the merit is said to collapse.