Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 30
Viśveśvara-māhātmya and the Nirguṇa–Saguṇa Emergence of Śiva (Śakti–Puruṣa/Prakṛti Discourse)
काश्याश्च महिमानं वै वक्तुं वर्षशतैरपि । शक्नोम्यहं न सर्वं हि यथाशक्ति ब्रुवे ततः
kāśyāśca mahimānaṃ vai vaktuṃ varṣaśatairapi | śaknomyahaṃ na sarvaṃ hi yathāśakti bruve tataḥ
Tunay nga, kahit magsalita ako sa loob ng sandaang taon, hindi ko pa rin kayang ilahad nang buo ang kaluwalhatian ng Kāśī. Kaya’t isasalaysay ko lamang ito ayon sa abot ng aking kakayahan.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Kotirudra context of Jyotirlinga-tirtha glorification)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Sūta confesses the inexhaustibility of Kāśī’s mahimā—an established Purāṇic trope indicating that the kṣetra’s glory transcends discursive description; only a partial account can be given.
Significance: Encourages śraddhā: the kṣetra’s greatness is ‘ananta’; hearing even a portion is meritorious and motivates pilgrimage and devotion.
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse establishes Kāśī’s mahimā as essentially immeasurable, implying that Shiva’s grace embodied in this sacred kṣetra transcends ordinary description; devotion and direct practice there are emphasized over mere discourse.
In the Kotirudra focus on Jyotirlinga-tirthas, Kāśī is approached through Saguna Shiva—Shiva present as the worship-worthy Lord of the kṣetra and as Linga-presence—whose tangible grace in a holy place exceeds what words can fully capture.
A practical takeaway is to engage in kṣetra-bhakti: japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-pūjā, and pilgrimage-minded remembrance of Kāśī’s sanctity, since experience and practice are presented as more complete than verbal description.