Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

एतानि पुण्यस्थानानि त्रैलोक्ये विश्रुतानि ह / न यास्यन्ति परं मोक्षं वाराणस्यां यथा मृताः

Transliteration

etāni puṇyasthānāni trailokye viśrutāni ha / na yāsyanti paraṃ mokṣaṃ vārāṇasyāṃ yathā mṛtāḥ

Translation

Ces lieux saints sont certes renommés dans les trois mondes ; pourtant, ceux qui y meurent n’obtiennent pas la délivrance suprême comme ceux qui meurent à Vārāṇasī.

Word by Word

• एतानि: these
• एतानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण (demonstrative adjective)

• पुण्य-स्थानानि: holy places
• पुण्य-स्थानानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुण्यस्य स्थानानि = holy places)

• त्रैलोक्ये: in the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रैलोक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• विश्रुतानि: well-known
• विश्रुतानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-श्रु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘प्रसिद्ध’ अर्थे

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), वाक्यालङ्कारार्थक/उद्गारार्थक

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• यास्यन्ति: will go/attain
• यास्यन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘मोक्षम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• मोक्षम्: liberation
• मोक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वाराणस्याम्: in Vārāṇasī
• वाराणस्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराणसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• यथा: as/just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/avyaya)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (comparative/‘as’)

• मृताः: the dead (those who died)
• मृताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त past participle used substantively), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages on tirtha-mahima

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vārāṇasī (Kāśī)
• Trailokya

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that supreme moksha is not merely the result of general merit (puṇya) but is tied to a unique liberating condition associated with Kāśī—suggesting a special convergence of grace and spiritual potency that culminates in realization of the Supreme.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse itself emphasizes kṣetra-māhātmya (the power of a sacred field) rather than a specific technique; in Kurma Purana’s broader framework, such sacred contexts are meant to support japa, dhyāna, and devotion (bhakti) aligned with Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava unity, culminating in liberation.

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

By having Lord Kurma (Vishnu) uphold the incomparable liberating power of Vārāṇasī—traditionally Śiva’s foremost kṣetra—the Purana models a non-sectarian synthesis where Vishnu affirms Shiva’s sacred domain as a direct avenue to moksha.