Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42
Durjaya, Urvaśī, and the Expiation at Vārāṇasī
Genealogy and Sin-Removal through Viśveśvara
स्नात्वा संतर्प्य विधिवद् गङ्गायान्देवताः पितॄन् / दृष्ट्वा विश्वेश्वरं लिङ्गङ्किल्बिषान्मोक्ष्यसे ऽखिलात्
snātvā saṃtarpya vidhivad gaṅgāyāndevatāḥ pitṝn / dṛṣṭvā viśveśvaraṃ liṅgaṅkilbiṣānmokṣyase 'khilāt
إذا اغتسلتَ في الغانغا، وأرضيتَ على الوجه الشرعي الآلهةَ والآباءَ بالأقرِبة، ثم نظرتَ إلى لِنغا فيشفيشڤرا، تحرّرتَ من جميع الآثام كلّها.
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing about tirtha-vidhi and Shiva-darshana as liberative merit
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It presents liberation as purification and release from “kilbiṣa” through sacred action and darśana; the implied aim is inner purity conducive to Self-realization, while honoring Shiva (Viśveśvara) as a gateway to freedom.
Rather than a seated technique, the verse emphasizes preparatory sādhana: ritual purity (snāna), offerings (tarpana) to devas and pitṛs, and focused devotional contemplation through darśana of the Liṅga—acts that support steadiness of mind and dharmic purification.
With Vishnu (as Kurma) recommending Shiva’s Viśveśvara-liṅga darśana as liberative, the text reflects Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: reverence to Shiva is endorsed within a Vaishnava narrative voice.