Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 25

Narmadā-tīrtha-māhātmya — Bhṛgu-tīrtha to Sāgara-saṅgama

Pilgrimage Circuit, Gifts, Fasting, and Imperishable Merit

Devanagari script

कार्तिके मासि देवेशमर्चयेत् पार्वतीपतिम् / अश्वमेधाद् दशगुणं प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः

Transliteration

kārtike māsi deveśamarcayet pārvatīpatim / aśvamedhād daśaguṇaṃ pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ

Translation

In the month of Kārtika, one should worship the Lord of the gods—Śiva, the consort of Pārvatī. The wise declare that the merit of such worship is tenfold greater than that of the Aśvamedha sacrifice.

Word by Word

• कार्तिके: in (the month of) Kārtika
• कार्तिके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; मास-विशेषः

• मासि: in the month
• मासि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• देवेशम्: Lord of the gods
• देवेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानाम् ईशः)

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचन

• पार्वतीपतिम्: husband of Pārvatī (Śiva)
• पार्वतीपतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वती-पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पार्वत्याः पतिः)

• अश्वमेधात्: than the Aśvamedha (sacrifice)
• अश्वमेधात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वमेध (प्रातिपदिक; अश्व + मेध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः

• दशगुणम्: tenfold
• दशगुणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश-गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः द्विगुः (दश गुणाः यस्य/दशगुणम्)

• प्रवदन्ति: declare/say
• प्रवदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र- वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, बहुवचन; उपसर्गः—प्र

• मनीषिणः: the wise
• मनीषिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (Vyāsa/Śaunaka-style narration) teaching the merit of Kartika worship of Śiva

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kārtika (month)
• Śiva (Deveśa)
• Pārvatī
• Aśvamedha (horse sacrifice)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that supreme merit comes through devotion to Devēśa (Śiva), pointing to the Purāṇic teaching that the highest reality is approached by worship of Īśvara rather than by external ritual alone.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds vrata-based sādhana—disciplined worship in Kārtika—supporting the Kurma Purana’s broader emphasis on regulated devotion (niyama), purity, and one-pointed reverence as a practical limb of spiritual practice.

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

By placing supreme efficacy in Śiva-worship within the Kurma Purana’s Vaiṣṇava frame, it reflects the text’s synthesis: devotion to Śiva is upheld as fully consonant with devotion to the Supreme, aligning Śiva and Viṣṇu within a unified Īśvara-tattva.