Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 62

Avimukta-Māhātmya — Vyāsa in Vārāṇasī and Śiva’s Secret Teaching of Liberation

Devanagari script

वरणायास्तथा चास्या मध्ये वाराणसी पुरी / तत्रैव संस्थितं तत्त्वं नित्यमेवाविमुक्तकम्

Transliteration

varaṇāyāstathā cāsyā madhye vārāṇasī purī / tatraiva saṃsthitaṃ tattvaṃ nityamevāvimuktakam

Translation

In the tract between the Varana and the Asi rivers stands the sacred city of Vārāṇasī. There itself the Supreme Reality abides forever—this is the eternal ‘Avimukta’, the Never-abandoned holy ground.

Word by Word

• वरणायाः: of Varaṇā (river)
• वरणायाः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; नदी-शब्दः

• तथा: thus; also
• तथा: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थे (adverb: ‘thus/also’)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• अस्याः: of this (river/city)
• अस्याः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; अधिकरणार्थे

• वाराणसी: Vārāṇasī
• वाराणसी: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराणसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; नगरनाम

• पुरी: city
• पुरी: कर्ता (Appositional subject/समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; वाराणसी-विशेष्य/समनाधिकरण

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adverbial location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• संस्थितम्: established; situated
• संस्थितम्: विशेषण (Adjectival predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘स्थित’ = established

• तत्त्वम्: principle; reality
• तत्त्वम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; कर्तृपद/वाक्यविषय

• नित्यम्: always; eternal(ly)
• नित्यम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbially: always)

• एव: indeed
• एव: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• अविमुक्तकम्: Avimuktaka; not forsaken
• अविमुक्तकम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of tattva)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविमुक्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; तत्त्वस्य विशेषणम्; ‘अविमुक्त’ = not abandoned (name of sacred place)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (Kurma Purana narrative frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Varana River
• Asi River
• Varanasi (Kashi)
• Avimukta Kshetra
• Tattva (Supreme Reality)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies a “tattva” (supreme Reality) as ever-present and firmly established, implying an unchanging spiritual principle that is not limited by time—symbolically localized in Avimukta to teach constant accessibility of the Real.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse itself emphasizes kshetra-mahima (the sanctity of place) rather than a technique; in Kurma Purana context, such a site supports japa, dhyana, and Shiva/Vishnu-oriented contemplation where the mind steadies on tattva in a revered tirtha like Avimukta.

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

By presenting Avimukta (classically associated with Shiva and Kashi) within a Purana where Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaches, it reinforces the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian stance: the same supreme tattva is honored through both Shaiva and Vaishnava sacred frameworks.