स तापसोक्तमाकर्ण्य त्वाष्ट्र इत्थं सुहृष्टवान् । काशीसंप्रात्युपायं च तमेव समपृच्छत
sa tāpasoktamākarṇya tvāṣṭra itthaṃ suhṛṣṭavān | kāśīsaṃprātyupāyaṃ ca tameva samapṛcchata
తపస్వి వచనములు విని త్వాష్టృడు అత్యంత హర్షించెను; కాశీకి చేరుటకు ఉపాయమును ఆ మునినే అడిగెను.
Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative convention)
Tirtha: Kāśī (as destination of inquiry)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A sage seated in a forest hermitage speaks; Tvāṣṭra listens with brightened face and folded hands, then leans forward to ask about the path to Kāśī; in the background, a faint vision of Kāśī’s ghāṭs appears like a spiritual destination.
The proper response to hearing Kāśī’s greatness is joyful resolve and seeking guidance on the right path to reach the holy city.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), as a destination worthy of inquiry and effort.
No specific rite; the verse introduces the theme of asking for and receiving the ‘upāya’ (means) to reach Kāśī (pilgrimage guidance).