Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Oṅkāra-Liṅga and the Secret Pañcāyatana Liṅgas of Kāśī: Kṛttivāseśvara-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

एतत् परतरं ज्ञानं पञ्चयतनमुत्तमम् / सेवितं सूरिभिर्नित्यं वाराणस्यां विमोक्षदम्

Transliteration

etat parataraṃ jñānaṃ pañcayatanamuttamam / sevitaṃ sūribhirnityaṃ vārāṇasyāṃ vimokṣadam

Translation

Voici la connaissance suprême et transcendante : le Pañcāyatana, culte quintuple par excellence. Toujours pratiqué par les sages, il accorde la délivrance à Vārāṇasī.

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• परतरम्: higher, superior
• परतरम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; comparative degree (तर)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• पञ्चयतनम्: the fivefold abode/seat (pañcāyatana)
• पञ्चयतनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + यतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; द्विगुसमास (numeral compound)

• उत्तमम्: excellent, supreme
• उत्तमम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• सेवितम्: served, frequented
• सेवितम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘served/attended’

• सूरिभिः: by sages/learned ones
• सूरिभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय—क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

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

• विमोक्षदम्: granting liberation
• विमोक्षदम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमोक्ष + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (विमोक्षं ददाति इति)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing sages (Puranic dialogue frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vārāṇasī (Kāśī)
• Pañcāyatana
• Sūri (the wise/sages)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling Pañcāyatana “higher knowledge,” the verse frames liberation as arising from transcendent jñāna supported by integrated devotion—pointing to realization beyond sectarian distinctions rather than mere ritualism.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights a sādhana of continual “service/practice” (sevitam nityam) through Pañcāyatana—an integrated discipline that typically includes mantra, pūjā, and contemplative focus, aligning devotion with liberating insight (jñāna).

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

By endorsing Pañcāyatana as supreme and liberating, it implicitly supports a harmonizing, non-sectarian framework where major deities are honored together—consistent with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.