इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तेषां देवश्चंद्रविभूषणः । तथेत्युक्त्वा पुनः प्राह शृणुध्वं द्विजपुंगवाः
iti śrutvā vacasteṣāṃ devaścaṃdravibhūṣaṇaḥ | tathetyuktvā punaḥ prāha śṛṇudhvaṃ dvijapuṃgavāḥ
Услышав их слова, Господь, украшенный луной, сказал: «Да будет так». Затем, вновь заговорив, обратился к ним: «Слушайте, о лучшие из дважды-рождённых».
Śiva (Candravibhūṣaṇa)
Listener: dvija-puṅgavas (brāhmaṇas)
Scene: Moon-crested Śiva, serene and authoritative, addresses a circle of attentive brāhmaṇas, signaling the start of a boon-giving discourse in Kāśī.
Śiva responds with assent and calls for attentive listening—devotional instruction begins with receptivity and faith.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), in the context of the Vyāghreśvara-liṅga narrative of Kāśīkhaṇḍa.
No direct rite is prescribed here; it introduces Śiva’s forthcoming assurance and teaching.