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
Alors ce sage parvint à Kāśī, la cité qui resplendit au-dessus de toutes. Elle est chère à Śiva, dispense la béatitude de Śambhu et est la nature même (svarūpa) de Śambhu.
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.