Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43

Durjaya, Urvaśī, and the Expiation at Vārāṇasī

Genealogy and Sin-Removal through Viśveśvara

Devanagari script

प्रणम्य शिरसा कण्वमनुज्ञाप्य च दुर्जयः / वाराणस्यां हरं दृष्ट्वा पापान्मुक्तो ऽभवत् ततः

Transliteration

praṇamya śirasā kaṇvamanujñāpya ca durjayaḥ / vārāṇasyāṃ haraṃ dṛṣṭvā pāpānmukto 'bhavat tataḥ

Translation

Durjaya verneigte sich mit dem Haupt vor dem Weisen Kaṇva und erbat dessen Erlaubnis; dann ging er nach Vārāṇasī, und als er dort Hara (Śiva) schaute, wurde er von seinen Sünden befreit.

Word by Word

• praṇamya: having bowed
• praṇamya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), with pra-; ‘having bowed’

• śirasā: with (his) head
• śirasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• kaṇvam: Kaṇva
• kaṇvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṇva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• anujñāpya: having obtained permission
• anujñāpya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√jñā (धातु)
• Form: Causative gerund (ल्यप्) from anu-√jñā ‘to permit’; ‘having requested/obtained permission’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक) ‘and’

• durjayaḥ: Durjaya
• durjayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dur + jaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुव्रीहि ‘one who is hard to conquer’ (proper name/epithet)

• vārāṇasyām: in Vārāṇasī
• vārāṇasyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vārāṇasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• haram: Hara (Śiva)
• haram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having seen’

• pāpāt: from sin(s)
• pāpāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; in sense ‘from sins’ (collective)

• muktaḥ: freed
• muktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukta (प्रातिपदिक; √muc, past passive participle)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; PPP used predicatively ‘freed’

• abhavat: became/was
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त) ‘then/from that’

Speaker

Purana-narrator (Sūta/Ākhyātā) describing Durjaya’s pilgrimage outcome

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Kaṇva
• Durjaya
• Vārāṇasī (Kāśī)
• Hara (Śiva)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes purification through darśana of Hara at Kāśī, preparing the seeker for Self-knowledge by removing pāpa (ethical and karmic impediments) that obstruct realization.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights tīrtha-yātrā and darśana as purificatory disciplines; in Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva framework, such purification supports Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā (restraint, worship, and inner steadiness) leading toward liberating insight.

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

By presenting Shiva-darśana as liberating and authoritative within a Vaishnava Purana context, it reflects Kurma Purana’s synthesis: devotion to Hara is upheld as fully consonant with the Purana’s overarching dharma and liberation teaching.