Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī

Devanagari script

अथावगाह्य गङ्गायां कृत्वा देवादितर्पणम् / आदाय पुष्पवर्याणि मुनीन्द्रस्याविशद् गृहम्

Transliteration

athāvagāhya gaṅgāyāṃ kṛtvā devāditarpaṇam / ādāya puṣpavaryāṇi munīndrasyāviśad gṛham

Translation

Then, having bathed in the Gaṅgā and performed the tarpaṇa libations that bring satisfaction to the gods and other beings, he took choice flowers and entered the dwelling of the foremost sage.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (discourse particle)

• अवगाह्य: having bathed/immersed
• अवगाह्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-गाह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); उपसर्ग: अव

• गङ्गायाम्: in the Gaṅgā
• गङ्गायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• देव-आदि-तर्पणम्: the offering of libations to the gods etc.
• देव-आदि-तर्पणम्: Karma (कर्म) (object of कृत्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘देवान् आदीन् तर्पयति इति/देवादीनां तर्पणम्’

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); उपसर्ग: आ

• पुष्प-वर्याणि: excellent flowers
• पुष्प-वर्याणि: Karma (कर्म) (object of आदाय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘वर्याणि पुष्पाणि’

• मुनीन्द्रस्य: of the lord of sages
• मुनीन्द्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनीन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• अविशत्: entered
• अविशत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-विश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: आ

• गृहम्: the house
• गृहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the devotee/king’s actions in the episode)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Deva (gods)
• Munīndra (foremost sage)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it frames the seeker’s inner orientation: purification (snāna) and reverential offerings (tarpaṇa) precede true instruction, implying that self-knowledge is approached through disciplined preparation and humble entry into the presence of realized sages.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights preparatory sādhana aligned with Yoga-śāstra and Purāṇic dharma—śauca (ritual/inner purification) through tīrtha-snana, devatā-tarpaṇa (gratitude and harmonizing one’s relation to cosmic orders), and guru-satsaṅga (approaching the munīndra), which function as groundwork for higher contemplative practice.

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

While neither Śiva nor Viṣṇu is named here, the verse reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthetic ethos: dharmic purification and reverence to the devas and sages is a shared foundation across Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava paths, preparing the seeker for later non-dual and integrative teachings.