Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

Prayāga–Gaṅgā Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rules of Pilgrimage

Yātrā-vidhi

Devanagari script

गङ्गायमुनयोर्मध्ये यस्तु कन्यां प्रयच्छति / आर्षेण तु विवाहेन यथा विभवविस्तरम्

Transliteration

gaṅgāyamunayormadhye yastu kanyāṃ prayacchati / ārṣeṇa tu vivāhena yathā vibhavavistaram

Translation

من كان في الديار بين الغانغا (Gaṅgā) واليامونا (Yamunā) فزوّج فتاةً وفق طقس الآرْصَة (ārṣa) الذي أقرّه الرِّشي (Ṛṣi)، وبحسب سعته وقدرته، نال فضلًا دينيًّا عظيمًا.

Word by Word

• gaṅgā-yamunayoḥ: of the Gaṅgā and Yamunā
• gaṅgā-yamunayoḥ: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक) + yamunā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास; सम्बन्ध (genitive: ‘of Gaṅgā and Yamunā’)

• madhye: in the middle/between
• madhye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative: ‘in the middle/between’)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सूचक (relative pronoun)

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• kanyām: a maiden/daughter
• kanyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• prayacchati: gives/bestows
• prayacchati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√yam (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ārṣeṇa: by the ‘Ārṣa’ (sage) type
• ārṣeṇa: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ārṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies vivāhena)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• vivāhena: by marriage
• vivāhena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vivāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण (instrumental: ‘by means of marriage’)

• yathā: according to
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/परिमाणवाचक (as/according to)

• vibhava-vistaram: extent of one’s means/resources
• vibhava-vistaram: Karma (कर्म/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhava (प्रातिपदिक) + vistara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (विभवस्य विस्तारः); क्रियाविशेषणवत् (accusative of extent/manner)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) conveying the Kurma Purana’s dharma teaching in a tirtha-and-gifts context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Yamuna
• Arsha Vivaha
• Kanya-dana

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily dharma-oriented (kanyā-dāna and proper rite) rather than an explicit Atman teaching; it implies that righteous action (dharma) purifies the mind, which in the Kurma Purana is a prerequisite for higher Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No direct yoga technique is taught here; the practice emphasized is karma-yoga in the form of dharmic action—performing socially and scripturally ordained duties (vivāha, dāna) with propriety and within one’s means.

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

It does not explicitly mention Shiva–Vishnu unity; however, the Kurma Purana’s synthesis frames such dharmic rites as supportive of both Shaiva and Vaishnava paths by cultivating purity and merit that aid devotion and liberation.