Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 24
Narmadā-tīrtha-māhātmya — Bhṛgu-tīrtha to Sāgara-saṅgama
Pilgrimage Circuit, Gifts, Fasting, and Imperishable Merit
ततो गच्छेत राजेन्द्र भारभूतिमनुत्तमम् / उपोषितोर्ऽचयेदीशं रुद्रलोके महीयते / अस्मिंस्तीर्थे मृतो राजन् गाणपत्यमवाप्नुयात्
tato gaccheta rājendra bhārabhūtimanuttamam / upoṣitor'cayedīśaṃ rudraloke mahīyate / asmiṃstīrthe mṛto rājan gāṇapatyamavāpnuyāt
তদনন্তর, হে রাজেন্দ্র, অনুত্তম ভারভূতি তীর্থে গমন কর। উপবাস করে ঈশ (ভগবান শিব)-এর পূজা করলে সে রুদ্রলোকে মহিমান্বিত হয়। আর হে রাজন, এই তীর্থে মৃত্যু হলে শিবগণের মধ্যে গণপতি-পদ লাভ করে।
Sūta (narrating Purāṇic teaching to the sages, presenting tīrtha-māhātmya as received tradition)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
Indirectly: it emphasizes devotion (arcana) to Īśa through disciplined observance (fasting), implying that spiritual ascent is achieved by inner purification and God-centered orientation rather than mere ritualism.
The verse highlights upavāsa (fasting) as tapas/discipline and arcana (focused worship) as a bhakti-sādhana; together they function as preparatory practices that steady the mind and align the practitioner with Śiva’s grace.
While explicitly Shaiva (Īśa, Rudra-loka), it fits the Kurma Purana’s synthetic frame where Vishnu (as Kurma) transmits teachings that validate Śiva-worship and its fruits, reflecting a non-sectarian Purāṇic harmony.