Shloka 11
The Greatness of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya) and Avimukta’s Liberative Power
यः सेवतेऽनिशं काशीं मुक्तिदां वैष्णवीं पुरीम् । याचयित्वा हरेः क्षेत्रं स्थितो देवः सनातनः ॥ ११ ॥
yaḥ sevate'niśaṃ kāśīṃ muktidāṃ vaiṣṇavīṃ purīm | yācayitvā hareḥ kṣetraṃ sthito devaḥ sanātanaḥ || 11 ||
Quiconque sert sans cesse Kāśī —la cité sacrée vaiṣṇava qui donne la délivrance— le fait parce que le Dieu Éternel, l’ayant demandée comme domaine saint de Hari, y demeure.
Narada (teaching in the Kashi Mahatmya context, traditionally within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framing)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)
Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)
FAQs
It declares Kāśī as a Vaiṣṇava mokṣa-purī: sustained service to Kāśī is spiritually potent because it is affirmed as Hari’s own kṣetra where the Eternal Lord is established, making liberation a natural fruit of devotion there.
Bhakti is expressed as continuous sevā (’niśaṃ sevate)—steady worshipful service directed to a sacred place identified with Hari; the verse links pilgrimage and place-based devotion to direct relationship with Viṣṇu (Hari-kṣetra).
Primarily kṣetra-dharma (rules and sacred geography of tīrthas) rather than a technical Vedāṅga; the practical takeaway is the Purāṇic application of dharma through tīrtha-sevā—regular worship, residence, and pilgrimage discipline in Hari’s kṣetra.