संति व्रतानि भूयांसि नियमाः संत्यनेकधा । तपांसि नाना संत्यत्र संति दानान्यनेकशः
saṃti vratāni bhūyāṃsi niyamāḥ saṃtyanekadhā | tapāṃsi nānā saṃtyatra saṃti dānānyanekaśaḥ
“Terdapat banyak vrata (nazar suci) dan pelbagai niyama (disiplin). Di sini juga ada tapa yang beraneka, serta banyak bentuk dāna, yakni sedekah suci.”
Śiva (Īśvara)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Listener: Jaigīṣavya (implied continuation)
Scene: A montage-like depiction: pilgrims performing vows, ascetics practicing niyamas, householders giving dāna, and tapasvins meditating—set against Kāśī’s ghāṭas and temples.
Dharma offers many legitimate paths—vows, restraints, austerities, and charity—preparing for the teaching of what is considered supreme among them.
Indirectly Kāśī, since the Kāśīkhaṇḍa frames these practices within the religious culture of Vārāṇasī.
The verse broadly references vrata, niyama, tapas, and dāna without specifying a single procedure.