स एव विद्वाञ्जगति स एव विजितेंद्रियः । स एव पुण्यवान्धन्यो लब्ध्वा काशीं न यस्त्यजेत्
sa eva vidvāñjagati sa eva vijiteṃdriyaḥ | sa eva puṇyavāndhanyo labdhvā kāśīṃ na yastyajet
లోకంలో నిజమైన విద్వాంసుడు అతడే, జితేంద్రియుడూ అతడే; పుణ్యవంతుడూ ధన్యుడూ అతడే—కాశీని పొందిన తరువాత దానిని విడువనివాడు.
Narrative voice within the chapter (contextually Viṣṇu’s discourse)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Listener: Sages / aspirants weighing whether to remain or depart
Scene: A pilgrim arrives at Kāśī and chooses to remain: leaving behind baggage of worldly life, taking up simple living near a temple; imagery of conquered senses—calm gaze, restrained posture—against the bustling city.
True wisdom and self-mastery are measured by recognizing Kāśī’s supreme spiritual value and remaining steadfast to it.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), praised as the incomparable refuge that the wise do not forsake.
None; the verse praises steadfastness and discernment regarding residence/attachment to the sacred kṣetra.