Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Vārāṇasī (Avimukta) Māhātmya and the Catalogue of Guhya-Tīrthas

Devanagari script

भूतेश्वरं तथा तीर्थं तीर्थं धर्मसमुद्भवम् / गन्धर्वतीर्थं परमं वाह्नेयं तीर्थमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

bhūteśvaraṃ tathā tīrthaṃ tīrthaṃ dharmasamudbhavam / gandharvatīrthaṃ paramaṃ vāhneyaṃ tīrthamuttamam

Translation

Demikian pula ada Tīrtha Bhūteśvara, Tīrtha bernama Dharmasamudbhava, Tīrtha Gandharva yang utama, serta Tīrtha Vāhneya yang paling mulia.

Word by Word

• भूतेश्वरम्: Bhūteśvara (Lord of beings)
• भूतेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भूतानाम् ईश्वरः)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (thus/also)

• तीर्थम्: pilgrimage-place
• तीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तीर्थम्: tīrtha
• तीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन (पुनरुक्ति emphatic)

• धर्मसमुद्भवम्: arisen from dharma
• धर्मसमुद्भवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + समुद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धर्मात् समुद्भवः) विशेषणम् (तीर्थम्)

• गन्धर्वतीर्थम्: Gandharva-tīrtha
• गन्धर्वतीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गन्धर्वाणां तीर्थम्)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• वाह्नेयम्: of Agni / pertaining to fire
• वाह्नेयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वह्नि + णेय (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; तद्धितान्त विशेषणम् (अग्निसम्बन्धि)

• तीर्थम्: tīrtha
• तीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: best
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s account to the sages), within a tirtha-mahātmya listing

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bhūteśvara
• Dharma
• Gandharva
• Agni (Vahni)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by elevating tīrthas linked with Dharma and divine epithets (like Bhūteśvara), the verse points to purification of the antaḥkaraṇa as a support for realizing the Self—Atman is approached through dharmic, sanctifying means rather than described here philosophically.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific āsana or dhyāna is taught in this line; the practice implied is tīrtha-sevā—pilgrimage, ritual purity, and devotion—which the Kurma Purana treats as preparatory discipline (sādhana) supportive of higher Yoga, including Pāśupata-oriented renunciation and worship in other chapters.

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

By honoring Bhūteśvara (a Śiva-name) within a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa’s sacred geography, the text models harmony: Śiva-linked holy places are affirmed as spiritually efficacious within the broader dharmic path upheld by Lord Kurma’s tradition.