Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 43
ततः शिवस्तं तपसातिखिन्नं निवार्य ताभ्यः प्रणतिभ्य ईश्वरः । वरान्ददौ सप्ततुरंगसूनवे त्वं धर्मराजो भव नामतोपि
tataḥ śivastaṃ tapasātikhinnaṃ nivārya tābhyaḥ praṇatibhya īśvaraḥ | varāndadau saptaturaṃgasūnave tvaṃ dharmarājo bhava nāmatopi
随后，主宰湿婆制止了那因苦行而极度疲惫者，并因其礼拜而欢喜，便赐福于七马之主（太阳神苏利耶）之子：“你当成为达摩王，连名号亦如是。”
Skanda (narrating); direct speech by Śiva within the verse
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Śiva, compassionate yet majestic, raises the exhausted ascetic-devotee, halting his harsh tapas, and bestows a boon—appointing him as Dharmarāja.
FAQs
Austerity becomes fruitful when tempered by devotion and surrender; divine grace can transform a seeker into a cosmic steward of dharma.
The Kāśīkhaṇḍa setting continues, but the verse centers on Śiva’s boon and cosmic appointment rather than a particular Kāśī tīrtha.
No new prescription; it highlights tapas and repeated praṇāma as devotion that draws Śiva’s boon.