Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43

Durjaya, Urvaśī, and the Expiation at Vārāṇasī

Genealogy and Sin-Removal through Viśveśvara

Devanagari script

प्रणम्य शिरसा कण्वमनुज्ञाप्य च दुर्जयः / वाराणस्यां हरं दृष्ट्वा पापान्मुक्तो ऽभवत् ततः

Transliteration

praṇamya śirasā kaṇvamanujñāpya ca durjayaḥ / vārāṇasyāṃ haraṃ dṛṣṭvā pāpānmukto 'bhavat tataḥ

Translation

दुर्जय ने सिर झुकाकर कण्व ऋषि को प्रणाम किया और उनकी आज्ञा लेकर वाराणसी गया। वहाँ हर (शिव) का दर्शन करके वह पापों से मुक्त हो गया।

Word by Word

• praṇamya: having bowed
• praṇamya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), with pra-; ‘having bowed’

• śirasā: with (his) head
• śirasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• kaṇvam: Kaṇva
• kaṇvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṇva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• anujñāpya: having obtained permission
• anujñāpya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√jñā (धातु)
• Form: Causative gerund (ल्यप्) from anu-√jñā ‘to permit’; ‘having requested/obtained permission’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक) ‘and’

• durjayaḥ: Durjaya
• durjayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dur + jaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुव्रीहि ‘one who is hard to conquer’ (proper name/epithet)

• vārāṇasyām: in Vārāṇasī
• vārāṇasyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vārāṇasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• haram: Hara (Śiva)
• haram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having seen’

• pāpāt: from sin(s)
• pāpāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; in sense ‘from sins’ (collective)

• muktaḥ: freed
• muktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukta (प्रातिपदिक; √muc, past passive participle)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; PPP used predicatively ‘freed’

• abhavat: became/was
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त) ‘then/from that’

Speaker

Purana-narrator (Sūta/Ākhyātā) describing Durjaya’s pilgrimage outcome

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Kaṇva
• Durjaya
• Vārāṇasī (Kāśī)
• Hara (Śiva)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes purification through darśana of Hara at Kāśī, preparing the seeker for Self-knowledge by removing pāpa (ethical and karmic impediments) that obstruct realization.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights tīrtha-yātrā and darśana as purificatory disciplines; in Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva framework, such purification supports Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā (restraint, worship, and inner steadiness) leading toward liberating insight.

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

By presenting Shiva-darśana as liberating and authoritative within a Vaishnava Purana context, it reflects Kurma Purana’s synthesis: devotion to Hara is upheld as fully consonant with the Purana’s overarching dharma and liberation teaching.