Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17
नारदप्रश्नवर्णन (Nāradapraśna-varṇana) — “Account of Nārada’s Inquiry”
काशीं प्राप्याथ स मुनिः सर्वोपरि विराजिताम् । शिवप्रियां शंभुसुखप्रदां शम्भुस्वरूपिणीम्
kāśīṃ prāpyātha sa muniḥ sarvopari virājitām | śivapriyāṃ śaṃbhusukhapradāṃ śambhusvarūpiṇīm
Dann erreichte jener Weise Kāśī, die Stadt, die über allen erstrahlt. Sie ist Śiva lieb, schenkt die Wonne Śambhus und ist Śambhus eigenes Wesen (svarūpa).
Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Kāśī is praised as ‘śambhu-svarūpiṇī’: not merely a city containing Śiva, but a kṣetra where Śiva’s presence is intrinsic; later tradition crystallizes this as Viśvanātha’s eternal lordship and the kṣetra’s power to confer Śiva’s bliss and liberation.
Significance: Darśana in Kāśī is held to grant Śambhu-sukha and to orient the soul toward mokṣa; the kṣetra is treated as exceptionally potent for anugraha.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
FAQs
This verse presents Kāśī as the supreme tīrtha: Śiva’s beloved abode that grants Śambhu’s bliss, indicating that proximity to Śiva (through sacred place, devotion, and remembrance) supports liberation-oriented consciousness.
Calling Kāśī “Śambhu’s very nature” supports Saguna devotion—Śiva is approached through tangible sacred supports such as kṣetra (holy place) and Liṅga-worship, where the devotee encounters Śiva’s presence and grace.
Pilgrimage to Kāśī with steady Śiva-bhakti is implied; practically, one may perform Liṅga-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and meditation on Śambhu’s bliss while residing or worshipping in Śiva’s kṣetra.