Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

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

Devanagari script

अत्र लिङ्गं पुरानीय ब्रह्मा स्नातुं यदा गतः / तदानीं स्थापयामास विष्णुस्तल्लिङ्गमैश्वरम्

Transliteration

atra liṅgaṃ purānīya brahmā snātuṃ yadā gataḥ / tadānīṃ sthāpayāmāsa viṣṇustalliṅgamaiśvaram

Translation

ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಪ್ರಾಚೀನ ಪವಿತ್ರ ಲಿಂಗವಿತ್ತು. ಬ್ರಹ್ಮನು ಸ್ನಾನಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋದಾಗ, ಅದೇ ವೇಳೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಷ್ಣುವು ಆ ಈಶ್ವರಸ್ವರೂಪ ದಿವ್ಯ ಲಿಂಗವನ್ನು ಪ್ರತಿಷ್ಠಾಪಿಸಿದನು.

Word by Word

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga (emblem)
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• नीय: having brought
• नीय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु) + यत् (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्-प्रत्यय), कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः; अव्ययभावे (absolutive-like) ‘having brought/caused to be brought’

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्नातुम्: to bathe
• स्नातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृत्)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थे (purpose)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय (relative temporal adverb)

• गतः: went
• गतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘gone’

• तदानीम्: then
• तदानीम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदानीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• स्थापयामास: installed
• स्थापयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिजन्त ‘caused to be placed/installed’

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (demonstrative)

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ऐश्वरम्: divine/lordly
• ऐश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic sage-narration within a Tirtha/mahatmya account)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Ishvara (Shiva)
• Linga

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it points to one sovereign divinity (Īśvara) honored through the Liṅga, while Viṣṇu participates in that worship—suggesting a unified supreme principle beyond sectarian division.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes tīrtha-sevā and īśvara-upāsanā: sanctifying a place through installation (sthāpanā) and ritual purity (snāna), which in the Purāṇic-yogic frame supports inner discipline, devotion, and contemplative steadiness.

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

It portrays harmony and mutual reverence: Viṣṇu installs the Liṅga of Īśvara, presenting Śiva-worship as compatible with Vaiṣṇava devotion and reinforcing the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis.