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

যেমন দেবগণের মধ্যে পুরুষোত্তম নারায়ণ শ্রেষ্ঠ, তেমনি ঈশ্বরদের মধ্যে গিরীশ (শিব) সর্বপ্রধান; আর তীর্থস্থানগুলির মধ্যে এই স্থানই সর্বোত্তম।

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.