Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 18

Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Mahālaya, Kedāra, Rivers and Fords, and Devadāru Forest

Akṣaya-Karma Doctrine

Devanagari script

स्वामितीर्थं महातीर्थं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् / तत्र सन्निहितो नित्यं स्कन्दो ऽमरनमस्कृतः

Transliteration

svāmitīrthaṃ mahātīrthaṃ triṣu lokeṣu viśrutam / tatra sannihito nityaṃ skando 'maranamaskṛtaḥ

Translation

Svāmī-tīrtha es un gran lugar de peregrinación, célebre en los tres mundos. Allí mora siempre Skanda, venerado sin cesar por los inmortales, en presencia manifiesta.

Word by Word

• svāmi-tīrtham: the Svāmi sacred ford
• svāmi-tīrtham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svāmin (प्रातिपदिक) + tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (svāminaḥ tīrtham)

• mahā-tīrtham: the great sacred ford
• mahā-tīrtham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः (mahattīrtham)

• triṣu: in the three
• triṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); संख्याविशेषण

• lokeṣu: worlds
• lokeṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• viśrutam: renowned
• viśrutam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-śru (धातु) + ta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कर्मणि भूतकृदन्त); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषणम् (tīrtham)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• sannihitaḥ: present, stationed
• sannihitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ni-dhā (धातु) + ta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषणम् (skandaḥ)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया एकवचन)

• skandaḥ: Skanda
• skandaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: skanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• amara-namaskṛtaḥ: saluted by the gods
• amara-namaskṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amara (प्रातिपदिक) + namas-kṛta (कृत्; कृ धातु)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (amaraiḥ namaskṛtaḥ = ‘saluted by immortals’)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/Indradyumna on tirtha-mahatmya (pilgrimage glory)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Svami-tirtha
• Skanda (Kartikeya)
• Amaras (Devas)
• Tri-loka (three worlds)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by presenting a tīrtha as “renowned in the three worlds” and a deity as “ever-present,” the verse points to sacred presence (sannidhāna) as a support for inner recollection of the Self—where the pilgrim’s mind becomes steady and oriented to the transcendent.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes tīrtha-sevā and darśana of a deity with nitya-sannidhāna (perpetual presence). In Kurma Purana’s devotional-yogic frame, pilgrimage, reverent salutations, and concentrated remembrance at such a site function as aids to dhyāna and mental purification.

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

A Vaishnava speaker (Kurma/Vishnu) glorifies a site where Skanda—closely linked to the Shaiva family—abides perpetually. This reflects the Purana’s synthetic stance: Vishnu-authority endorses Shaiva devatā-sannidhāna, supporting a non-sectarian, integrative dharma.