Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 139
Dharmānukathana
Narration of Dharma
काश्यां माहेश्वरं लिङ्गं संपूज्य प्रणमेत्तु यः । न तस्य विद्यते कृत्यं संसृतिर्नैव जायते ॥ १३९ ॥
kāśyāṃ māheśvaraṃ liṅgaṃ saṃpūjya praṇamettu yaḥ | na tasya vidyate kṛtyaṃ saṃsṛtirnaiva jāyate || 139 ||
Ai ở Kāśī thành kính thờ phụng Liṅga Māheśvara rồi cúi lạy, thì đối với người ấy không còn bổn phận bắt buộc nào nữa; sự tái sinh trong saṃsāra hoàn toàn không khởi lên.
Narada (teaching in dialogue with the Sanatkumara tradition)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It declares Kāśī as a mokṣa-kṣetra: sincere worship and reverent prostration to the Māheśvara Liṅga there is said to culminate in freedom from saṃsāra, as if all remaining spiritual obligations have been fulfilled.
The verse emphasizes simple, direct bhakti—pūjā (loving worship) and praṇāma (humble surrender). The promised result is not merely merit but release from rebirth, presenting devotion as a complete means to the highest end.
Ritual praxis is implied: proper pūjā-vidhi (kalpa-oriented procedure) and disciplined reverence (ācāra). While no specific Vedāṅga is named, the verse aligns with Kalpa (ritual performance) through the stress on ‘saṃpūjya’—worship done correctly and completely.