Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 89
कृशानौ कृशतां प्राप्ते कथं पाकक्रिया भवेत् । तथापि सूर्यपाकेन सिद्धा पक्तिर्हि काचन
kṛśānau kṛśatāṃ prāpte kathaṃ pākakriyā bhavet | tathāpi sūryapākena siddhā paktirhi kācana
Khi chính ngọn lửa đã trở nên yếu ớt, việc nấu nướng sao có thể thành? Thế nhưng, nhờ sức nóng của mặt trời, quả thật cũng đã có món được nấu chín.
Pākaśālā-adhikāriṇaḥ (kitchen officials) to the King
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A weakened kitchen fire; cooks point to vessels warmed under bright sunlight in a courtyard. The sun’s rays are depicted as tangible heat completing the cooking despite the failing flame.
FAQs
Even when customary supports fail, dharma seeks lawful alternatives—here, sustaining necessary work through the sun’s heat.
Kāśī is the overarching sacred setting; the verse highlights cosmic support (Sūrya) rather than a named tīrtha.
No formal prescription; it mentions ‘sūrya-pāka’ as a practical substitute method when fire is unavailable/weak.