Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

Vārāṇasī (Avimukta) Māhātmya and the Catalogue of Guhya-Tīrthas

Devanagari script

गङ्गातीर्थं तु देवेशं ययातेस्तीर्थमुत्तमम् / कापिलं चैव सोमेशं ब्रह्मतीर्थमनुत्तमम्

Transliteration

gaṅgātīrthaṃ tu deveśaṃ yayātestīrthamuttamam / kāpilaṃ caiva someśaṃ brahmatīrthamanuttamam

Translation

„Es gibt den Gaṅgā-Tīrtha und Deveśa; den vortrefflichen Tīrtha des Königs Yayāti; ebenso den Kāpilā-Tīrtha mit Someśa; und den unübertrefflichen Brahma-Tīrtha.“

Word by Word

• गङ्गातीर्थम्: the Gaṅgā tīrtha
• गङ्गातीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गङ्गायाः तीर्थम्)

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: 'but/indeed')

• देवेशम्: Deveśa (Lord of gods; a shrine-name)
• देवेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानाम् ईशः)

• ययातेः: of Yayāti
• ययातेः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ययाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• तीर्थम्: tīrtha
• तीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तीर्थम्)

• कापिलम्: Kāpila (a tīrtha-name)
• कापिलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कापिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (नामधेय), द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात

• सोमेशम्: Someśa (Lord of Soma; a shrine-name)
• सोमेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सोमस्य ईशः)

• ब्रह्मतीर्थम्: the Brahmā tīrtha
• ब्रह्मतीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः तीर्थम्)

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed
• अनुत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ब्रह्मतीर्थम्)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator continuing a tirtha-listing discourse; traditionally transmitted via Vyāsa’s narration in Purāṇic frame-dialogue)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā-tīrtha
• Deveśa
• King Yayāti
• Kāpilā (Kapila-related tīrtha)
• Someśa (Śiva)
• Brahma-tīrtha
• Brahmā

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily a tīrtha-catalogue; its spiritual thrust is indirect—affirming that sacred geography and dharmic pilgrimage are supports (upāyas) for inner purification that prepares one for knowledge of Ātman taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yogic technique is described in this line; it promotes tīrtha-yātrā and devotional reverence to named sacred sites and deities (including Someśa/Śiva), which in the Purāṇic path function as preparatory disciplines alongside vrata, dāna, and worship.

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

By placing Someśa (a Śaiva sacred presence) within a broader Purāṇic tīrtha framework, the verse reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava sanctities coexist as complementary avenues within one dharmic cosmos.