Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 85
तं विदंति वसिष्ठाद्यास्तवार्त्विज्यं भजंति ये । एको रुद्रो न द्वितीयः संविदाना अपीति हि
taṃ vidaṃti vasiṣṭhādyāstavārtvijyaṃ bhajaṃti ye | eko rudro na dvitīyaḥ saṃvidānā apīti hi
Những ai thọ nhận sự phụng sự tế tự của Ngài—Vasiṣṭha và các bậc hiền triết khác—thật sự biết Ngài. Vì các bậc chứng ngộ quả quyết rằng: “Rudra chỉ là Một, không có thứ hai.”
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa context, typically Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Viśveśvara (Kāśī) (doctrinal focus)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Purāṇic audience (not explicit)
Scene: A calm assembly of Vasiṣṭha and other ṛṣis performing priestly functions, their faces serene with realization, while the declaration ‘Eko Rudraḥ’ is visually suggested as a luminous, singular liṅga or all-pervading Śiva-presence behind them.
FAQs
The highest truth is the oneness and supremacy of Rudra/Śiva, recognized by realized sages.
Kāśī’s Viśveśvara is implied as that one Rudra; the verse supports the theology behind Kāśī’s greatness.
It references ṛtvij (priestly) participation in sacrifices, emphasizing that ritual finds its ultimate grounding in Śiva.