Shloka 18

Narmadā–Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Sequence of Sacred Fords and Their Fruits

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मणा निर्मितं लिङ्गं ब्रह्मेश्वरमिति श्रुतम् / यत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन् ब्रह्मलोके महीयते

Transliteration

brahmaṇā nirmitaṃ liṅgaṃ brahmeśvaramiti śrutam / yatra snātvā naro rājan brahmaloke mahīyate

Translation

Dieser Liṅga soll von Brahmā geschaffen worden sein und ist als „Brahmeśvara“ berühmt. O König, wer dort badet, wird in der Welt Brahmās (Brahmaloka) geehrt und erhöht.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• निर्मितम्: made, constructed
• निर्मितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir + mā (धातु) → nirmita (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga (emblem)
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मेश्वरम्: Brahmeśvara
• ब्रह्मेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्रह्मणः ईश्वरः/ब्रह्म-ईश्वरः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इति: thus, as
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/निगमनार्थक-अव्यय

• श्रुतम्: is heard/known
• श्रुतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु) → śruta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थे ‘is heard/known’

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: snā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मलोके: in Brahma-loka
• ब्रह्मलोके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्रह्मणः लोकः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• महीयते: is honored, attains glory
• महीयते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mah (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे—‘is honored/glorified’

Speaker

Narrator addressing the King (a tīrtha-māhātmya style instruction within the Kurma Purana’s dialogue framework)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Brahmeśvara
• Śiva (as liṅga)
• Brahmaloka

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes purification through sacred action (tīrtha-snāna) and devotion to the liṅga, implying that spiritual elevation is attained when the mind turns toward Īśvara and higher realms of consciousness (symbolized by Brahmaloka).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights tīrtha-snāna (ritual bathing) as a preparatory discipline—supporting inner purity (śauca) and devotion (bhakti)—which in Kurma Purana’s broader dharma-yoga framework complements japa, worship, and contemplative absorption associated with Śaiva/Pāśupata practice.

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

By glorifying a Śiva-liṅga within the Kurma Purana (a Vaiṣṇava text-voice through Kurma), it reflects the Purana’s synthetic stance: reverence to Śiva is upheld as spiritually efficacious and harmonious with Vaiṣṇava devotion rather than opposed to it.