Narmadā–Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Sequence of Sacred Fords and Their Fruits
सर्वाभरणसंयुक्तः सर्वदेवनमस्कृतः / शिवतुल्यबलो भूत्वा शिववत् क्रीडते चिरम्
sarvābharaṇasaṃyuktaḥ sarvadevanamaskṛtaḥ / śivatulyabalo bhūtvā śivavat krīḍate ciram
Mit allen göttlichen Schmuckstücken geziert und von allen Göttern verehrt, wird er von einer Kraft erfüllt, die der Śivas gleicht; und wie Śiva selbst weilt er lange in göttlicher Freiheit, spielend und sich erquicklich.
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in a Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis context
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
It portrays liberation as sharing in Śiva-like power and freedom—an Atman-centered state where the realized being participates in divine glory rather than remaining bound by limitation.
The verse points to the fruition of Pāśupata-oriented discipline—purification, devotion, and alignment with Īśvara—culminating in divine empowerment and liberated “play” (krīḍā) as a mark of spiritual attainment.
By describing a Śiva-like attainment within Kurma’s teaching, it reinforces the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: Vishnu (as Kurma) validates Shiva’s supreme status and presents Shiva-likeness as a legitimate goal of liberation.