Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34

Prayāga–Gaṅgā Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rules of Pilgrimage

Yātrā-vidhi

Devanagari script

सर्वेषामे भूतानां पापोपहतचेतसाम् / गतिमन्वेषमाणानां नास्ति गङ्गासमा गतिः

Transliteration

sarveṣāme bhūtānāṃ pāpopahatacetasām / gatimanveṣamāṇānāṃ nāsti gaṅgāsamā gatiḥ

Translation

Für alle Wesen, deren Geist durch Sünde verwundet und verdunkelt ist und die einen wahren Weg jenseits des Umherirrens suchen, gibt es keine Zuflucht und keinen letzten Übergang, der der Gaṅgā gleichkäme.

Word by Word

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.)/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (pl.); सर्वनाम-विशेषण (pronominal adjective)

• इमे: these
• इमे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (pl.); सर्वनाम (pronoun) used adjectivally

• भूतानाम्: of beings
• भूतानाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (pl.)

• पाप-उपहत-चेतसाम्: whose minds are afflicted by sin
• पाप-उपहत-चेतसाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa + upahata (उप-√han धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय) + cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग (all genders), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (pl.); बहुव्रीहि: पापेन उपहतं चेतः येषाम् (whose minds are struck/afflicted by sin)

• गतिम्: a path/goal
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (sg.)

• अन्वेषमाणानाम्: of those seeking
• अन्वेषमाणानाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu-√iṣ (धातु) + माण (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय; वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), परस्मैपदी-धात्वर्थ (agentive); षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (pl.), त्रिलिङ्ग (all genders)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• अस्ति: there is
• अस्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस् धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद

• गङ्गा-समाः: equal to the Ganga
• गङ्गा-समाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gaṅgā + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.); उपमान-तत्पुरुष/सम्बन्ध: गङ्गायाः समा (equal to Ganga)

• गतिः: path/goal
• गतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.)

Speaker

Narratorial voice within the Purana (tirtha-mahatmya style teaching, traditionally framed in the Kurma Purana’s discourse lineage)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it points to the restoration of clarity (cetas) needed for Self-knowledge. When sin clouds the mind, discernment of the Atman is obstructed; the Ganga is praised as the most potent purifier that prepares one for higher realization.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes purification as a prerequisite to Yoga—cleansing pāpa that agitates and obscures the mind. In Kurma Purana’s broader spiritual frame, such tirtha-sevana supports inner disciplines like japa, dhyāna, and restraint by making the mind fit (adhikāra) for practice.

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

Though not explicit here, the Kurma Purana commonly treats sacred means like the Ganga as universally efficacious across Shaiva–Vaishnava practice. The Ganga functions as a shared purifying power supporting both devotion and liberation-oriented paths.