The Account of Kāṣṭhīlā (Kāṣṭhīlā-ākhyāna) within the Mohinī Narrative
तद्गृहाच्छक्तिमहरद्दीप्तामग्रिशिखामिव । सेयं समाश्रिता चात्र शालवृक्षे तु वासवी ॥ ११५ ॥
tadgṛhācchaktimaharaddīptāmagriśikhāmiva | seyaṃ samāśritā cātra śālavṛkṣe tu vāsavī || 115 ||
Mula sa bahay na iyon ay kinuha niya ang Kapangyarihan (Shakti), na nagliliyab na parang dila ng apoy; at ang mismong Kapangyarihang iyon ay namalagi rito, sa lugar na ito, sa itaas ng punong Śāla—O Vāsavī.
Narada (narrating the mahatmya account within Uttara-Bhaga)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
It portrays divine Śakti as a living, transferable presence—radiant like fire—that can be “seized” and then becomes localized in a sacred spot (here, a śāla tree), marking the place as spiritually charged and worthy of reverence.
Bhakti is implied through the recognition that the Divine can dwell in specific sacred loci; honoring such a locus (tree/tirtha) with faith, worship, and remembrance becomes a tangible way for devotees to approach and experience the divine presence.
No explicit Vedāṅga doctrine is taught in this verse; however, it supports Purāṇic ritual culture (kalpa-prayoga in practice) by indicating how sacred sites are identified—through narrative markers of divine presence that guide pilgrimage and worship.