Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

ये भक्ता देवदेवेशे वाराणस्यां वसन्ति वै / ते विन्दन्ति परं मोक्षमेकेनैव तु जन्मना

Transliteration

ye bhaktā devadeveśe vārāṇasyāṃ vasanti vai / te vindanti paraṃ mokṣamekenaiva tu janmanā

Translation

Die Bhaktas, die wahrhaft in Vārāṇasī wohnen und dem Herrn der Herren ergeben sind, erlangen die höchste Befreiung—ja, in nur einem einzigen Leben.

Word by Word

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Relative pronoun, nominative plural

• भक्ताः: devotees
• भक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √भज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Past passive participle used substantively: ‘devotees’

• देवदेवेशे: in/with the Lord of the god of gods (Śiva)
• देवदेवेशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular; समास: देवानां देवस्य ईशः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• वाराणस्याम्: in Vārāṇasī
• वाराणस्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराणसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• वसन्ति: live/dwell
• वसन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; Present indicative 3rd pl.

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Demonstrative pronoun, nominative plural

• विन्दन्ति: find/attain
• विन्दन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; Present indicative 3rd pl.

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular qualifying मोक्षम्

• मोक्षम्: liberation
• मोक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• एकेन: by one
• एकेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (measure)

• एव: only
• एव: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (restrictive particle)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrastive particle)

• जन्मना: by (a) birth
• जन्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking to the sages (Kurma Purana narrative frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devadevesha
• Varanasi (Kashi)
• Moksha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that supreme liberation (parama-mokṣa) is attainable through steadfast devotion to the Devadeveśa; mokṣa here indicates realization of the highest spiritual state rather than merely heavenly merit.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds bhakti as the primary sādhanā, supported by residence in a tīrtha (Vārāṇasī) where disciplined living, worship, japa, and purity of conduct are traditionally intensified—aligned with Purāṇic yoga as devotion-centered practice.

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

By using the title Devadeveśa in the context of Kāśī—classically associated with Śiva—while spoken within a Vaiṣṇava Kurma framework, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: the Supreme Lord is one, approached through shared sacred symbols and tīrthas.