Shloka 57
The Description of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya): Avimukta, Kapālamocana, and Śiva’s Purification
तथेति प्रतिपेदे च क्षीरसागरजाप्रियः । ततः प्रभृति विप्रेंद्र शैवं क्षेत्रं निगद्यते ॥ ५७ ॥
tatheti pratipede ca kṣīrasāgarajāpriyaḥ | tataḥ prabhṛti vipreṃdra śaivaṃ kṣetraṃ nigadyate || 57 ||
“അങ്ങനെ തന്നേ” എന്നു ക്ഷീരസാഗരജാ (ലക്ഷ്മി)യുടെ പ്രിയനായ ഭഗവാൻ സമ്മതിച്ചു. അതിനുശേഷം, ഹേ വിപ്രേന്ദ്രാ, ഈ സ്ഥലം ‘ശൈവക്ഷേത്രം’ എന്നു പ്രസിദ്ധമായി।
Narada (narrating to the Sanatkumara brothers)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)
FAQs
It marks the formal sanctification of a location as a Śaiva-kṣetra—showing how divine assent establishes a tirtha’s identity and ongoing ritual authority.
By depicting the Lord (identified through Lakṣmī) approving a Śaiva designation, it supports inclusive bhakti: honoring Śiva’s sacred spaces as part of dharmic devotion rather than sectarian conflict.
The verse reflects Nirukta-style usage of epithets (kṣīrasāgarajāpriyaḥ) and the dharmic principle of kṣetra-nāma/saṁjñā (how a place is authoritatively named and classified for pilgrimage and rites).