Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 70

Avimukta-Māhātmya — Vyāsa in Vārāṇasī and Śiva’s Secret Teaching of Liberation

Devanagari script

यथा नारायणः श्रेष्ठो देवानां पुरुषोत्तमः / यथेश्वराणां गिरिशः स्थानानां चैतदुत्तमम्

Transliteration

yathā nārāyaṇaḥ śreṣṭho devānāṃ puruṣottamaḥ / yatheśvarāṇāṃ giriśaḥ sthānānāṃ caitaduttamam

Translation

كما أنّ نارايانا (Nārāyaṇa) هو الأسمى بين الآلهة، «بوروشوتّما» أي الشخص الأعلى؛ كذلك بين السادة الإلهيين يتقدّم جيريشا (Girīśa)، شيفا؛ ومن بين جميع المواضع المقدّسة فهذا الموضع هو الأرفع.

Word by Word

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/यथार्थक (comparative particle: “just as”)

• nārāyaṇaḥ: Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन (Singular)

• śreṣṭhaḥ: best, foremost
• śreṣṭhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन (Singular)

• devānām: of the gods
• devānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); बहुवचन (Plural)

• puruṣa-uttamaḥ: the supreme person
• puruṣa-uttamaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (puruṣaḥ sa uttamaḥ); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन (Singular)

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानार्थक (comparative particle)

• īśvarāṇām: of the lords
• īśvarāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); बहुवचन (Plural)

• giriśaḥ: Giriśa (Śiva, lord of the mountain)
• giriśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giriśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन (Singular)

• sthānānām: of places
• sthānānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); बहुवचन (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• etat: this (place/thing)
• etat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd); एकवचन (Singular)

• uttamam: supreme, best
• uttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd); एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking to the sages/Indradyumna-context on tirtha-mahatmya

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Girish(a)
• Devas
• Tirtha (sacred place)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

By identifying Nārāyaṇa as Puruṣottama, the verse points to a single supreme principle behind the gods, implying a highest reality that grounds divine hierarchy and worship.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse is not a technical yoga-instruction; it supports devotional concentration (bhakti) and tirtha-oriented discipline by directing the mind toward the supreme Lord and the sanctity of a highest pilgrimage-place.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

It presents a synthesizing hierarchy: Viṣṇu as Puruṣottama and Śiva (Girīśa) as foremost among īśvaras, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s Hari-Hara harmony rather than sectarian opposition.