Shloka 66
The Description of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya): Avimukta, Kapālamocana, and Śiva’s Purification
यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः काशीकांत ऋद्धिसमन्विताः । नात्र स्नानं प्रशंसंति न जपं न सुरार्चनम् ॥ ६६ ॥
yajñaśiṣṭāśinaḥ kāśīkāṃta ṛddhisamanvitāḥ | nātra snānaṃ praśaṃsaṃti na japaṃ na surārcanam || 66 ||
Yaong kumakain ng nalalabi sa yajña, minamahal ng Kāśī, at pinagkalooban ng kasaganaan—dito sa Kāśī, hindi nila ipinupuri ang paliligo sa ritwal, ni ang japa, ni ang pagsamba sa mga diyos bilang hiwa-hiwalay na paraan; sapagkat ang banal na pook na ito mismo ay lubhang makapangyarihan.
Suta (narrating the Kashi Mahatmya section of the Narada Purana)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)
FAQs
It teaches the exceptional sanctity of Kāśī: the tīrtha itself is portrayed as so potent that ordinary auxiliary practices like ceremonial bathing, japa, and separate deva-worship are not emphasized as primary means there.
By downplaying external ritual as the main focus in Kāśī, the verse points toward concentrated inner orientation—faith, surrender, and single-pointed devotion—where the sacred presence of the kṣetra supports direct spiritual attainment.
Ritual-practice hierarchy is implied: snāna (tīrtha bathing), japa (mantra discipline), and arcanā (deva worship) are acknowledged as standard sādhanas, yet the text asserts that in certain kṣetras their relative necessity changes—an applied understanding of ritual context rather than a new Vedāṅga technique.