Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 70
प्रयत्नेन खनन्यद्वद्भूमेर्वार्यधिगच्छति । शुश्रूषया गुरोस्तद्वद्विद्या शिष्योधिगच्छति
prayatnena khananyadvadbhūmervāryadhigacchati | śuśrūṣayā gurostadvadvidyā śiṣyodhigacchati
Như người siêng năng đào đất sẽ gặp nước ẩn trong lòng đất, cũng vậy, nhờ phụng sự thầy (guru) với lòng kính tín, người đệ tử đạt được minh triết chân thật.
Skanda
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Scene: A disciple digs a well in parable-form while, in the main scene, he sits near a guru in Kāśī, offering water and listening; the hidden water becomes a luminous stream symbolizing vidyā.
FAQs
Knowledge arises through sustained effort and reverent service; guru-sevā is presented as the direct means to vidyā.
The instruction is situated in the Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s Kāśī setting, where right conduct supports the pilgrimage-spirit of Varanasi.
The ‘prescription’ is disciplined practice: śuśrūṣā (attentive service) to the guru as a formal dharmic discipline for students.