Shloka 19
The Greatness of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya) and Avimukta’s Liberative Power
वरणासिर्नदी यावदसिः शुष्कनदी शुभे । एष क्षेत्रस्य विस्तारः प्रोक्तो देवेन शंभुना ॥ १९ ॥
varaṇāsirnadī yāvadasiḥ śuṣkanadī śubhe | eṣa kṣetrasya vistāraḥ prokto devena śaṃbhunā || 19 ||
হে শুভে! বরাণাসী নদী থেকে শুকনো অসি নদী পর্যন্ত—এটাই এই ক্ষেত্রের বিস্তার, দেব শম্ভু যেমন বলেছেন।
Suta (narrating; citing the declaration of Śambhu/Śiva)
Vrata: none
Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"adbhuta","emotional_journey":"From concrete river-boundaries to the sense of sacred authority: Śambhu himself declares the kṣetra’s extent."}
FAQs
It defines the sacred geographic extent of the Kashi kṣetra, grounding its tirtha-mahātmyā in Śiva’s authoritative proclamation, which frames Kashi as a divinely delimited field of merit and liberation-oriented pilgrimage.
By presenting Kashi as a divinely established kṣetra spoken of by Śambhu, it encourages श्रद्धा (faith) and devotion through pilgrimage and remembrance of the deity connected with the place—an applied form of bhakti expressed via sacred travel and reverence.
It reflects applied sacred-topography used in tīrtha-yātrā planning—practical dharma guidance rather than a technical Vedāṅga lesson; the key takeaway is knowing the kṣetra’s boundary markers for correct observance of Kashi pilgrimage rites.