Shloka 14
Tīrtha-Māhātmya and the Discipline of Pilgrimage (Tīrtha-sevā) within Prāyaścitta
तत्र स्नात्वा महादेवं पूजयित्वा वृषध्वजम् / सर्वपापैर्विमुच्येत मृतस्तज्ज्ञानमाप्नुयात्
tatra snātvā mahādevaṃ pūjayitvā vṛṣadhvajam / sarvapāpairvimucyeta mṛtastajjñānamāpnuyāt
তাত স্নান কৰি বৃষধ্বজ মহাদেৱক পূজা কৰিলে সকলো পাপৰ পৰা মুক্তি হয়; আৰু তাতেই মৃত্যু হ’লে তেওঁৰ তত্ত্বজ্ঞান লাভ হয়।
Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing in a tīrtha-māhātmya context (Shaiva-Vaishnava harmony)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It points to liberation through "tajjñāna"—the liberating knowledge of the Lord—implying that freedom is ultimately achieved not only by ritual purity but by realization/knowledge that culminates in mokṣa.
The verse highlights preparatory purification (snāna at a tīrtha) and focused devotion (pūjā of Mahādeva). In Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-leaning framework, such acts support inner purity and steadiness that mature into liberating jñāna.
With Lord Kūrma teaching the fruit of worshipping Śiva, the text models Shaiva–Vaishnava unity: devotion to Mahādeva is validated within a Vaishnava narrator’s instruction, emphasizing one liberating Reality approached through Śiva.