Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 25
कलावानेक एवास्ति त्रिदिवेपि दिवौकसाम् । तस्य क्षोणिभृतः क्षोण्यां जनाः सर्वे कलालयाः
kalāvāneka evāsti tridivepi divaukasām | tasya kṣoṇibhṛtaḥ kṣoṇyāṃ janāḥ sarve kalālayāḥ
即使在三重天界的诸神之中，真正具足卓越者也唯有一位；而在大地上，于那位负土之王的统御下，众人皆成就业之所、功德之宅。
Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa context typically Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśīkṣetra (Avimukta)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka and the Naimiṣāraṇya sages (frame; not explicit here)
Scene: A panegyric tableau: Kāśī as a radiant city on the Gaṅgā, with a dharmic king/guardian bearing the ‘burden of the land’ while citizens shine as accomplished, auspicious figures; above, a subdued svarga contrasts with Kāśī’s splendor.
FAQs
Kāśī’s dharmic order is portrayed as so elevating that ordinary people can embody excellence, surpassing even celestial exclusivity.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) is implied as the sanctified realm where righteous governance and sacred atmosphere uplift society.
No explicit ritual is prescribed here; the emphasis is on the merit (puṇya) of dharmic life and rule within Kāśī.