Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

Prayāga-māhātmya — The Greatness of Prayāga and the Discipline of Pilgrimage

Devanagari script

न्यग्रोधं रक्षते नित्यं शूलपाणिर्महेश्वरः / स्थानं रक्षन्ति वै देवाः सर्वपापहरं शुभम्

Transliteration

nyagrodhaṃ rakṣate nityaṃ śūlapāṇirmaheśvaraḥ / sthānaṃ rakṣanti vai devāḥ sarvapāpaharaṃ śubham

Translation

Maheshvara, der Tridentträger, beschützt stets den Nyagrodha (Banyanbaum). Wahrlich, die Götter bewahren jenen heiligen Ort—heilvoll und imstande, alle Sünden zu tilgen.

Word by Word

• न्यग्रोधम्: the banyan tree
• न्यग्रोधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्यग्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• रक्षते: protects
• रक्षते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kāla/Avadhi (काल/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverbially)

• शूलपाणिः: the one with a trident in hand (Śiva)
• शूलपाणिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहि (यस्य पाणौ शूलम् सः)

• महेश्वरः: Maheśvara
• महेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (महान् ईश्वरः)

• स्थानम्: the place
• स्थानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रक्षन्ति: protect
• रक्षन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सर्वपापहरम्: removing all sins
• सर्वपापहरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + पाप + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां पापानां हरः) ; स्थानम् इति विशेषणम्

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; स्थानम् इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta (narrator) recounting the tirtha-mahatmya within the Kurma Purana’s Purva-bhaga narration

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Nyagrodha
• Maheshvara
• Shulapani
• Devas

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting a divinely protected sacred locus that “removes all sins,” the verse implies that purity and liberation are supported by grace (anugraha) and right orientation toward the divine—preparing the mind for Atman-realization rather than defining Atman directly.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes tirtha-sevana (reverent approach to sacred places) as an auxiliary discipline: pilgrimage, restraint, and worship that purify the mind—supporting higher Yoga (dhyana) taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana, including Shaiva-oriented contemplative practice.

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

Even within a Vishnu-centered Purana, Shiva (Maheshvara) is shown as the active guardian of holiness, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology where Shaiva and Vaishnava powers cooperate to uphold dharma and sanctity.