Narmadā–Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Sequence of Sacred Fords and Their Fruits
सर्वाभरणसंयुक्तः सर्वदेवनमस्कृतः / शिवतुल्यबलो भूत्वा शिववत् क्रीडते चिरम्
sarvābharaṇasaṃyuktaḥ sarvadevanamaskṛtaḥ / śivatulyabalo bhūtvā śivavat krīḍate ciram
مُتَحَلِّيًا بكلِّ الزينةِ الإلهية، ومُكَرَّمًا من جميعِ الآلهة، يصير ذا قوّةٍ تماثل قوّةَ شيفا؛ وكشيفا نفسه يمرحُ في حرّيةٍ ربّانيةٍ زمنًا طويلًا.
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in a Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis context
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
It portrays liberation as sharing in Śiva-like power and freedom—an Atman-centered state where the realized being participates in divine glory rather than remaining bound by limitation.
The verse points to the fruition of Pāśupata-oriented discipline—purification, devotion, and alignment with Īśvara—culminating in divine empowerment and liberated “play” (krīḍā) as a mark of spiritual attainment.
By describing a Śiva-like attainment within Kurma’s teaching, it reinforces the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: Vishnu (as Kurma) validates Shiva’s supreme status and presents Shiva-likeness as a legitimate goal of liberation.