यदा तुष्टोयमीशानो दातुं वरमथाययौ । उवाच च प्रसन्नात्मा याचध्वं वरमुत्तमम्
yadā tuṣṭoyamīśāno dātuṃ varamathāyayau | uvāca ca prasannātmā yācadhvaṃ varamuttamam
ഈ ഈശാനൻ തൃപ്തനായി വരം നൽകാൻ മുന്നോട്ട് വന്നപ്പോൾ, പ്രസന്നഹൃദയത്തോടെ പറഞ്ഞു—“ഉത്തമമായ വരം യാചിക്കുവിൻ।”
Narrator (Gaṇas’ account, leading into Śiva’s speech)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta/Vaiśveśvarī)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Śiva as Īśāna steps forward from the sanctum, serene and radiant, right hand raised in boon-giving gesture; the maidens stand with folded hands, awe and readiness; the air filled with lamp-light and incense.
Divine grace responds to sincere austerity; the Lord invites devotees to articulate their highest spiritual aim.
The setting continues within Kāśī-khaṇḍa’s Kāśī-māhātmya frame, where boons are granted in the sphere of Viśveśvara.
No specific rite is prescribed here; it describes the moment when tapas yields eligibility for a divine boon.