Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36
Avimukta-Māhātmya — Vyāsa in Vārāṇasī and Śiva’s Secret Teaching of Liberation
दुर्लभा तपसा चापि पूतस्य परमेश्वरि / यत्र तत्र विपन्नस्य गतिः संसारमोक्षणी
durlabhā tapasā cāpi pūtasya parameśvari / yatra tatra vipannasya gatiḥ saṃsāramokṣaṇī
O Parameśvarī, selbst für den durch Askese Geläuterten bist Du schwer zu erreichen; doch für den Bedrängten wirst Du, wo immer er auch sei, zur Zuflucht, die aus dem Saṃsāra befreit.
A sage/narrator addressing the Supreme Goddess (Parameśvarī) within the Purāṇic discourse
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It implies liberation is not merely the product of personal effort (tapas) but arises through turning to the Supreme (here, Parameśvarī) as the saving refuge—pointing to the Atman’s freedom when supported by divine grace and right refuge.
Tapas (austerity) is acknowledged as a yogic discipline that purifies, yet the verse emphasizes that final release from saṃsāra depends on seeking the Supreme as one’s gati (refuge/goal), aligning with Purāṇic yoga where effort is completed by surrender and grace.
By presenting the Supreme as Parameśvarī who grants mokṣa, the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology: liberation is grounded in the one Supreme reality revered through Shaiva-Shakta or Vaishnava forms, with refuge (gati) as the unifying principle.