Shloka 68
भैरवावतारलीलावर्णनम् (Bhairava-avatāra-līlā-varṇanam) — “Narration of the Divine Play of Bhairava’s Descent”
विश्वेश्वरेऽपि ये भक्ता नो भक्ताः कालभैरवे । ते लभन्ते महादुःखं काश्यां चैव विशेषतः
viśveśvare'pi ye bhaktā no bhaktāḥ kālabhairave | te labhante mahāduḥkhaṃ kāśyāṃ caiva viśeṣataḥ
Those who are devoted to Viśveśvara yet are not devoted to Kālabhairava obtain great suffering—especially in Kāśī.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Śiva Purāṇa teaching to the sages, conveying the Kāśī-mahātmya theme)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Kālabhairava
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: In Kāśī, Viśveśvara/Viśvanātha is worshipped together with Kālabhairava as the kṣetrapāla; neglecting the guardian-deity while claiming devotion to the Lord of the kṣetra is censured in the Kāśī-māhātmya stream of the Śiva Purāṇa.
Significance: Affirms the orthodox Kāśī pilgrimage pattern: worship of Viśvanātha is to be completed/secured by reverence to Kālabhairava, the protector and regulator of kṣetra-dharma.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse teaches that devotion must be complete and properly ordered: in Kāśī, honoring Viśveśvara without reverence to Kālabhairava (Śiva’s fierce guardian aspect) is considered an incomplete bhakti that leads to inner obstruction and suffering rather than grace.
Viśveśvara represents Saguna Śiva worship through the Liṅga in Kāśī, while Kālabhairava represents Śiva’s protective, disciplinary power that safeguards dharma and the sacred space. The verse links Liṅga-bhakti with the necessary reverence to Śiva’s Bhairava form for worship to become fruitful.
Practically, it implies performing Kālabhairava-vandana along with Viśveśvara worship—such as reciting Śiva mantras (including Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a disciplined vrata, and offering respectful prayers to Bhairava as the kṣetra-pāla (guardian) of Kāśī.