Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

कृत्वा वै नैष्ठिकीं दीक्षामविमुक्ते वसन्ति ये / तेषां तत्परमं ज्ञानं ददाम्यन्ते परं पदम्

Transliteration

kṛtvā vai naiṣṭhikīṃ dīkṣāmavimukte vasanti ye / teṣāṃ tatparamaṃ jñānaṃ dadāmyante paraṃ padam

Translation

Ceux qui, ayant reçu l’initiation ferme (naiṣṭhikī), demeurent à Avimukta—à eux Je donne cette connaissance suprême ; et au terme (de la vie) J’accorde l’état le plus élevé.

Word by Word

• kṛtvā: having performed
• kṛtvā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having done’

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/उपपद-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• naiṣṭhikīm: steadfast/ultimate
• naiṣṭhikīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naiṣṭhikī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• dīkṣām: initiation
• dīkṣām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīkṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• avimukte: in Avimukta
• avimukte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-vimukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; स्थान-नाम

• vasanti: dwell/live
• vasanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vas (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक सर्वनाम

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• tat-paramam: that supreme
• tat-paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad-parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तत्’ (that) + ‘परम’ (supreme)

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• dadāmi: I give
• dadāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• ante: at the end
• ante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; काल/अवस्था-वाचक

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• padam: state/abode
• padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking as the supreme teacher within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis, praising Avimukta and the vow-based path to liberation

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Avimukta (Kashi)
• Naiṣṭhikī Dīkṣā
• Jñāna (liberating knowledge)
• Paraṃ Padam (supreme state)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents liberation as arising from “supreme knowledge” (parama-jñāna) granted by the Lord, culminating in the “highest state” (paraṃ padam)—a mokṣa-oriented vision where true knowledge, not mere ritual, is decisive.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes naiṣṭhikī dīkṣā—steadfast, lifelong disciplined initiation—paired with residence in the sacred kṣetra (Avimukta). This aligns with Kurma Purana’s vow-centered sādhanā: regulated conduct, devotion, and contemplative pursuit of liberating jñāna.

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

By centering Avimukta (traditionally linked with Śiva) while having the Lord (Vishnu/Kūrma) promise liberating knowledge and the supreme goal, the text models a non-sectarian synthesis: the sacred Śaiva kṣetra and the Vaiṣṇava Lord’s grace converge in one mokṣa-teaching.