Shloka 8
Prayāga–Gaṅgā Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rules of Pilgrimage
Yātrā-vidhi
वटमूलं समाश्रित्य यस्तु प्राणान् परित्यजेत् / सर्वलोकानतिक्रम्य रुद्रलोकं स गच्छति
vaṭamūlaṃ samāśritya yastu prāṇān parityajet / sarvalokānatikramya rudralokaṃ sa gacchati
Wer am Wurzelgrund des Banyanbaums Zuflucht nimmt und die Lebenshauche hingibt, überschreitet alle Welten und gelangt in Rudras Reich.
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing sages on tīrtha-mahātmyas and the fruit of sacred death
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
By stating that one can “transcend all worlds” and reach Rudra’s realm, the verse points beyond mere heavenly reward toward a liberation-oriented ascent, where the self is understood as capable of surpassing conditioned planes through right dharmic resolve and divine orientation (Rudra as the liberating Lord).
The verse implies disciplined, vow-based relinquishment of the life-breaths (a dharmic form of voluntary, sanctified death rather than impulsive self-harm), aligned with tīrtha-sevā and inner steadiness—ideas compatible with Pāśupata-leaning renunciation and breath-awareness (prāṇa) as a yogic principle in the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching.
Spoken within a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa context yet directing the fruit to Rudra’s realm, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: devotion and dharma culminate in the grace of the one Supreme, expressed here as Rudra/Śiva, without contradicting Viṣṇu’s role as teacher and cosmic Lord.