Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

Prayāga-māhātmya and Ṛṇa-pramocana-tīrtha — Māgha-snāna, Austerities, and Release from Debts

Devanagari script

ततः स्वर्गात् परिभ्रष्टो जम्बूद्वीपपतिर्भवेत् / स भुक्त्वा विपुलान् भोगांस्तत् तीर्थं भजते पुनः

Transliteration

tataḥ svargāt paribhraṣṭo jambūdvīpapatirbhavet / sa bhuktvā vipulān bhogāṃstat tīrthaṃ bhajate punaḥ

Translation

Daraufhin, aus dem Himmel zurückgefallen, wird er zum Herrscher über Jambūdvīpa. Nachdem er reichliche Genüsse ausgekostet hat, nimmt er erneut Zuflucht zu jenem heiligen Tīrtha, der Furt.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter; from there
• ततः: सम्बन्ध/अधिकरण-निर्देश (Contextual/Temporal marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), तस्मात्-अर्थे (ablatival adverb): "thereafter/from that"

• स्वर्गात्: from heaven
• स्वर्गात्: अपादान (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• परिभ्रष्टः: fallen down; slipped away
• परिभ्रष्टः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari√bhraṃś (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• जम्बूद्वीपपतिः: lord of Jambūdvīpa
• जम्बूद्वीपपतिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jambūdvīpa + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (jambūdvīpasya patiḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Predicate action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भुक्त्वा: having enjoyed
• भुक्त्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhuj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having done)

• विपुलान्: abundant; great
• विपुलान्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vipula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (भोगान्)

• भोगान्: enjoyments
• भोगान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तीर्थम्)

• तीर्थम्: holy place; pilgrimage site
• तीर्थम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भजते: resorts to; worships; seeks
• भजते: क्रिया (Predicate action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhaj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), पुनरावृत्ति-अर्थे (again)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the Kurma Purana’s tirtha-mahātmya teaching to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Jambūdvīpa
• Svarga
• Tīrtha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it contrasts temporary heavenly reward and worldly sovereignty with the recurring impulse toward tīrtha-sevana, implying that lasting fulfillment is not in bhoga (enjoyment) but in dharmic, purifying pursuit that supports Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes tīrtha-sevana (pilgrimage and sacred observance) as a purificatory discipline; in Kurma Purana’s broader yoga-ethic, such purification supports steadiness of mind (citta-śuddhi) and readiness for higher practices like japa, vrata, and contemplation aligned with Pāśupata-oriented devotion.

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

While not naming them, the teaching fits the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: merit leads to svarga and kingship, yet the seeker returns to sanctifying dharma—tīrthas commonly associated with both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava worship—pointing to a shared path of purification beyond sectarian boundaries.