Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Prayāga–Gaṅgā Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rules of Pilgrimage

Yātrā-vidhi

Devanagari script

उत्तरेण प्रतिष्ठानं भागीरथ्यास्तु सव्यतः / हंसप्रपतनं नाम तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम्

Transliteration

uttareṇa pratiṣṭhānaṃ bhāgīrathyāstu savyataḥ / haṃsaprapatanaṃ nāma tīrthaṃ trailokyaviśrutam

Translation

উত্তরে আছে প্রতিষ্ঠান, আর ভাগীরথীর বাম তীরে ‘হংস-প্রপতন’ নামে তীর্থ—ত্রিলোকে প্রসিদ্ধ।

Word by Word

• उत्तरेण: to the north (of)
• उत्तरेण: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), एकवचनम्; comparative/adjectival stem used adverbially = 'to the north of'

• प्रतिष्ठानम्: Pratiṣṭhāna (place name)
• प्रतिष्ठानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिष्ठान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• भागीरथ्याः: of the Bhāgīrathī (Gaṅgā)
• भागीरथ्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भागीरथी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (सम्बन्ध), एकवचनम्

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle (निपात) = emphasis/contrast

• सव्यतः: on the left (side)
• सव्यतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोगः; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ततः-प्रकार) = 'on the left side'

• हंसप्रपतनम्: (the place called) Haṃsa-prapātana
• हंसप्रपतनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस + प्रपतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (हंसानां प्रपतनम्)

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; indeclinable used to indicate appellation = 'by name'

• तीर्थम्: a sacred ford/pilgrimage place
• तीर्थम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; apposition to हंसप्रपतनम्

• त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम्: renowned in the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रैलोक्य + विश्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; adjective qualifying तीर्थम्; सप्तमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः = 'renowned in the three worlds'

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing the tirtha-geography as taught in the Kurma Purana tradition

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Pratiṣṭhāna
• Bhāgīrathī (Gaṅgā)
• Haṃsa-prapatana Tīrtha
• Trailokya

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily a tīrtha-sūcana (sacred place notice), not a direct teaching on Ātman; indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic view that sacred geography supports inner purification that prepares one for knowledge of the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yoga technique is stated in this line; the implied practice is tīrtha-yātrā with snāna, japa, and devotional observances—common Kurma Purana disciplines that complement later teachings such as Pāśupata-oriented sādhana.

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

The verse does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; within the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis, such tīrthas are treated as universally sanctifying—supporting devotion to Īśvara in either form.