Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī

Devanagari script

उपेतं सर्वतः पुण्यं ज्ञानिभिस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः / नदीभिरभितो जुष्टं जापकैर्ब्रह्मवादिभिः

Transliteration

upetaṃ sarvataḥ puṇyaṃ jñānibhistattvadarśibhiḥ / nadībhirabhito juṣṭaṃ jāpakairbrahmavādibhiḥ

Translation

Von allen Seiten heilig, wird es von den Weisen aufgesucht — von denen, die die Wirklichkeit (tattva) schauen, wie sie ist; Flüsse umgeben und hegen es, und Mantra-Japa-Übende sowie Verkünder des Brahman verkehren dort.

Word by Word

• उपेतम्: attended/approached
• उपेतम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-इ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘approached/attended’

• सर्वतः: from all sides
• सर्वतः: देशाधिकरण (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; दिशार्थक/पर्यायार्थक क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb: ‘from all sides’)

• पुण्यम्: holy
• पुण्यम्: विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; adjective ‘holy/meritorious’

• ज्ञानिभिः: by knowers
• ज्ञानिभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; instrumental plural masculine

• तत्त्वदर्शिभिः: by seers of truth
• तत्त्वदर्शिभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व-दर्शिन् (प्रातिपदिक; तत्त्व + दर्शिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; instrumental plural masculine

• नदीभिः: by rivers
• नदीभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; instrumental plural feminine

• अभितः: around
• अभितः: देशाधिकरण (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभितः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; परितः-अर्थे क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb: ‘around/on all sides’)

• जुष्टम्: frequented
• जुष्टम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जुष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘frequented/adorned’

• जापकैः: by reciters (of japa)
• जापकैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जापक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; instrumental plural masculine

• ब्रह्मवादिभिः: by expounders of Brahman/Veda
• ब्रह्मवादिभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्म + वादिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; instrumental plural masculine

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) describing a sacred tirtha to the sages/seekers

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Rivers (Nadis)
• Japa (Mantra-recitation)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By praising “tattva-darśins” and “brahma-vādins,” the verse frames the tirtha as a support for Brahman-oriented insight—where seekers refine knowledge toward direct vision of reality (tattva) rather than mere ritual merit.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse explicitly highlights japa (mantra-repetition) and brahma-vāda (disciplined teaching/contemplation of Brahman), implying a yogic culture of steady recitation, concentration, and inquiry conducted in a sanctifying environment.

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

While not naming Shiva or Vishnu directly, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative spirituality: sacred geography, mantra-practice, and Brahman-realization are presented as shared foundations across Shaiva and Vaishnava paths, pointing to a non-sectarian, Brahman-centered synthesis.