Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

Prayāga-māhātmya — The Greatness of Prayāga and the Discipline of Pilgrimage

Devanagari script

तत्र ब्रह्मादयो देवा रक्षां कुर्वन्ति संगताः / बहून्यन्यानि तीर्थानि सर्वपापापहानि तु

Transliteration

tatra brahmādayo devā rakṣāṃ kurvanti saṃgatāḥ / bahūnyanyāni tīrthāni sarvapāpāpahāni tu

Translation

Là, les dieux—avec Brahmā à leur tête—se rassemblent et veillent pour protéger. Et l’on y trouve encore bien d’autres tīrtha, qui effacent véritablement tous les péchés.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• ब्रह्म-आदयः: Brahmā and others
• ब्रह्म-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष (समाहार/आदि-अर्थ) — 'ब्रह्मा च ये आदयः'

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); apposition to 'ब्रह्मादयः'

• रक्षाम्: protection
• रक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• कुर्वन्ति: do/perform
• कुर्वन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• संगताः: assembled/together
• संगताः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त; भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); 'देवाः' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• बहूनि: many
• बहूनि: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); 'तीर्थानि' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अन्यानि: other
• अन्यानि: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); 'तीर्थानि' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तीर्थानि: holy fords/pilgrimage places
• तीर्थानि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; understood 'are')
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सर्व-पाप-अपहानि: removing all sins
• सर्व-पाप-अपहानि: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + अपहानि (प्रातिपदिक from अप + हा/हन् sense 'removal')
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष — 'सर्वेषां पापानाम् अपहानि' (removers of all sins), 'तीर्थानि' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/contrast)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s tirtha-mahātmya to the sages, within the broader dialogue tradition)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Devas
• Tīrthas

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes purification (pāpa-kṣaya) through tīrtha and divine protection; in the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching, such purification supports inner fitness (adhikāra) for realizing the Self beyond merit and demerit.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse focuses on tīrtha-sevā and śuddhi (purificatory discipline). In Kurma Purana practice-logic, pilgrimage, vows, and worship function as preparatory aids that steady the mind for dhyāna and higher yoga.

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

Not explicitly in this line; it presents a shared Purāṇic framework where multiple devas protect sacred spaces. In the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, such divine guardianship ultimately supports devotion and purification oriented to the one supreme reality revered as Hari-Hara.