Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 6

Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Mahālaya, Kedāra, Rivers and Fords, and Devadāru Forest

Akṣaya-Karma Doctrine

Devanagari script

तत्र स्नात्वा महादेवमभ्यर्च्य वृषकेतनम् / पीत्वा चैवोदकं शुद्धं गाणपत्यमवाप्नुयात्

Transliteration

tatra snātvā mahādevamabhyarcya vṛṣaketanam / pītvā caivodakaṃ śuddhaṃ gāṇapatyamavāpnuyāt

Translation

هناك، بعد الاغتسال وعبادة مهاديفا—شِيفا صاحب الراية التي تحمل الثور—ثم شرب ذلك الماء الطاهر أيضاً، ينال المرء الحالة المباركة (أو العالم) لِغَنَپَتي (غنيشا).

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• वृष-केतनम्: the Bull-bannered (Śiva)
• वृष-केतनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + केतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (having the bull as emblem)

• पीत्वा: having drunk
• पीत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• उदकम्: water
• उदकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शुद्धम्: pure
• शुद्धम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of उदकम्)

• गाणपत्यम्: the state/realm of Gaṇapati; Gaṇeśa’s proximity
• गाणपत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाणपत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अवाप्नुयात्: may obtain
• अवाप्नुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-√आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing sages on tirtha-mahatmya and ritual fruits (Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Mahadeva (Shiva)
• Vrishaketan (Shiva)
• Ganapati (Ganesha)
• Tirtha (sacred water)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it presents purity (śuddhi) through tirtha-snana and devotion as preparatory means—supporting the Kurma Purana’s broader view that inner realization is aided by disciplined sacred action and God-centered worship.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

A karma-yogic and bhakti-oriented discipline: ritual bathing (snāna), focused worship (abhyarcana) of Śiva as Vṛṣaketan, and taking sanctified water—outer purifications that steady the mind and align the practitioner with dharma, a recurring foundation for higher yogic practice in the Purana.

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

By having Kurma (Vishnu) praise and prescribe worship of Mahādeva (Śiva), it reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: devotion to Śiva is affirmed within a Vaishnava narrative voice, emphasizing unity of divine purpose across forms.