Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

Avimukta-Māhātmya — Vyāsa in Vārāṇasī and Śiva’s Secret Teaching of Liberation

Devanagari script

उत्तमं सर्वतीर्थानां स्थानानामुत्तमं च तत् / ज्ञानानामुत्तमं ज्ञानमविमुक्तं परं मम

Transliteration

uttamaṃ sarvatīrthānāṃ sthānānāmuttamaṃ ca tat / jñānānāmuttamaṃ jñānamavimuktaṃ paraṃ mama

Translation

Avimukta ist das Vortrefflichste unter allen Pilgerstätten (tīrthas); es ist auch die beste der heiligen Wohnstätten. Unter allen Erkenntnissen ist es die höchste Erkenntnis—Avimukta, Mein höchster, transzendenter Zustand.

Word by Word

• उत्तमम्: best
• उत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; superlative sense ‘best’

• सर्व-तीर्थानाम्: of all pilgrimage places
• सर्व-तीर्थानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘सर्वेषां तीर्थानाम्’

• स्थानानाम्: of places
• स्थानानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• उत्तमम्: best
• उत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicative adjective

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• तत्: that (place)
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• ज्ञानानाम्: of knowledges
• ज्ञानानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• उत्तमम्: best
• उत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अविमुक्तम्: Avimukta (the un-abandoned place)
• अविमुक्तम्: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-वि-मुक्त (प्रातिपदिक; मुच् धातु से क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; proper name/epithet ‘Avimukta’ (unabandoned)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मम: of me / my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) as the Supreme Teacher, presenting a Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis by identifying Avimukta with the highest liberating knowledge

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Avimukta (Kashi)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It equates the highest ‘knowledge’ with Avimukta as the Lord’s own supreme state, implying that true liberating knowledge is realization of the Supreme Reality (Atman/Brahman) rather than mere intellectual learning.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds jñāna as the liberating means: sustained contemplation (nididhyāsana) on the Supreme, supported by purity and pilgrimage-dharma, aligning with Kurma Purana’s broader yoga framework where knowledge culminates in moksha.

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

By praising Avimukta—classically associated with Shiva and Kāśī—while speaking as Lord Kurma (Vishnu) and calling it ‘My supreme state,’ the text presents a non-sectarian unity where Shaiva sacred space is affirmed within a Vaishnava voice.