Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

Prayāga–Gaṅgā Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rules of Pilgrimage

Yātrā-vidhi

Devanagari script

तीर्थानां परमं तीर्थं नदीनां परमा नदी / मोक्षदा सर्वभूतानां महापातकिनामपि

Transliteration

tīrthānāṃ paramaṃ tīrthaṃ nadīnāṃ paramā nadī / mokṣadā sarvabhūtānāṃ mahāpātakināmapi

Translation

Unter allen Tīrtha ist sie das höchste Tīrtha; unter allen Flüssen ist sie der erhabenste Fluss—sie schenkt Mokṣa allen Wesen, selbst denen, die mit großen Sünden beladen sind.

Word by Word

• तीर्थानाम्: of sacred fords; among tīrthas
• तीर्थानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (genitive: among/of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6 विभक्ति), बहुवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; विशेषण

• तीर्थम्: sacred ford
• तीर्थम्: Karta (कर्ता) (nominal predicate: 'is the supreme tīrtha')
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• नदीनाम्: of rivers; among rivers
• नदीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6 विभक्ति), बहुवचन

• परमा: supreme
• परमा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; विशेषण

• नदी: river
• नदी: Karta (कर्ता) (nominal predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• मोक्ष-दा: granting liberation
• मोक्ष-दा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (मोक्षं ददाति इति)

• सर्व-भूतानाम्: of all beings
• सर्व-भूतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (genitive: for/of all beings)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6 विभक्ति), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (सर्वाणि भूतानि)

• महापातकिनाम्: of great sinners
• महापातकिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महापातकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6 विभक्ति), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महान् पातकी)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अप्यर्थ/समुच्चय (even/also)

Speaker

Purana-narrator (Vyasa/Suta framing), describing the tirtha-mahatmya within the Kurma Purana’s pilgrimage discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that liberation (mokṣa) is attainable through contact with a supremely sanctifying locus that dissolves karmic bondage—even heavy demerit—pointing to mokṣa as release into the Self beyond sin/merit accounting.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse itself emphasizes tirtha-sevana (reverent resort to a sacred river/ford) as a purifier; in Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis, such purification supports adhikara for mantra, japa, dhyana, and the Pashupata-oriented disciplines that culminate in moksha.

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

By presenting mokṣa as the highest goal granted through dharmic means (tirtha), it aligns with the Purana’s non-sectarian thrust: the liberating power ultimately belongs to the one Ishvara revered as Shiva or Vishnu, while sacred geography functions as His grace-medium.