Shloka 19
नारदप्रश्नवर्णन (Nāradapraśna-varṇana) — “Account of Nārada’s Inquiry”
स मुदः सेव्यतां काशीं कृतार्थो मुनिसत्तमः । नमन्संवर्णयन्भक्त्या संस्मरन्प्रेमविह्वलः
sa mudaḥ sevyatāṃ kāśīṃ kṛtārtho munisattamaḥ | namansaṃvarṇayanbhaktyā saṃsmaranpremavihvalaḥ
« Ô le meilleur des sages, demeure à Kāśī dans la joie et sers Kāśī ; tu es véritablement accompli. En te prosternant, en louant le Seigneur avec dévotion et en te souvenant de Lui—bouleversé par l’amour—poursuis ton culte. »
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the instruction within the Rudrasaṃhitā context to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Kāśī is upheld as Śiva’s own city (Avimukta-kṣetra) where remembrance, praise, and namaskāra to Viśveśvara grant swift spiritual fulfillment; serving Kāśī is itself service to Śiva.
Significance: Residence/service in Kāśī with bhakti (namaskāra, stuti, smaraṇa) is portrayed as kṛtārthatā (life’s fulfillment) and a direct means to Śiva’s grace (anugraha).
Type: stotra
FAQs
It presents Kāśī as a sacred Shaiva field of practice where fulfillment arises through bhakti expressed as service, bowing, praise, and constant remembrance of Shiva—love becoming the inner proof of spiritual attainment.
Serving Kāśī implies approaching Shiva in a tangible, Saguna mode—through temple worship, namaskāra, stuti, and pilgrimage discipline—while remembrance (smaraṇa) internalizes the same Shiva as the indwelling Lord, harmonizing outer Linga-worship with inner meditation.
A simple Shaiva sādhana is indicated: daily namaskāra (prostration), stotra/japa-like praise, and steady smaraṇa (mental recollection) of Shiva—ideally supported by regular temple service in Kāśī and mantra-based remembrance such as “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”