Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 55
यज्ञवाटं श्मशानाभं दृष्ट्वा तैः प्रमथैः पुरा । अतिशोच्यां दशां नीतं वीरभद्रस्ततो जगौ
yajñavāṭaṃ śmaśānābhaṃ dṛṣṭvā taiḥ pramathaiḥ purā | atiśocyāṃ daśāṃ nītaṃ vīrabhadrastato jagau
Thấy khu vực tế lễ bị những Pramatha biến thành cảnh tượng như bãi hỏa táng, Vīrabhadra liền cất lời, than khóc vì nó đã bị đẩy đến tình trạng đáng thương như thế.
Skanda (narration); Vīrabhadra is about to speak
Listener: Śaunaka and other ṛṣis (typical frame)
Scene: A once-ordered sacrificial enclosure lies wrecked—broken vedi, scattered kuśa, overturned vessels—now resembling a cremation-ground; Vīrabhadra stands amid gaṇas, grief turning into stern resolve.
FAQs
When sacred action is corrupted by ego, even a yajña-space can become spiritually barren—like a cremation ground—symbolizing the collapse of merit.
The Kāśī Khanda’s larger purpose is the glorification of Kāśī as Śiva’s domain; this verse uses imagery rather than naming a tirtha.
None explicitly; the passage reinforces that ritual sanctity depends on righteous intent and proper divine honor.