स्थितोपि भगवनीशो मंदरं चारुकंदरम् । काशीं विना रतिं नाऽप दिवोदासनृपोषिताम्
sthitopi bhagavanīśo maṃdaraṃ cārukaṃdaram | kāśīṃ vinā ratiṃ nā'pa divodāsanṛpoṣitām
即使圣主居于洞府秀美的曼陀罗山(Mandara),若无迦尸(Kāśī)亦不生欢喜——纵然当时迦尸由天授王迪沃达萨(Divodāsa)护持。
Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue context often Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra; Viśveśvara)
Type: kshetra
Listener: null
Scene: Śiva seated amid Mandara’s charming caves, yet his gaze and heart turn toward Kāśī; a subtle aura or vision of Viśveśvara-linga and Gaṅgā-ghāṭas appears as the true object of longing, while Divodāsa’s royal presence is hinted in the background as the current custodian of the city.
Kāśī is depicted as uniquely dear to Śiva—so much so that even divine abodes cannot replace its spiritual attraction.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), contrasted with Mandara mountain to highlight Kāśī’s unsurpassed sanctity.
None directly; the verse sets narrative context for the Divodāsa episode and Kāśī’s supremacy.