Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

यानि तीर्थानि तत्रैव विश्रुतानि महान्ति वै / इदानीं कथयास्माकं सूत सर्वार्थविद् भवान्

Transliteration

yāni tīrthāni tatraiva viśrutāni mahānti vai / idānīṃ kathayāsmākaṃ sūta sarvārthavid bhavān

Translation

ໂອ ສູຕະ, ທ່ານຜູ້ຮູ້ນັຍະແຫ່ງທຸກສິ່ງ, ບັດນີ້ຈົ່ງເລົ່າໃຫ້ພວກເຮົາຟັງເຖິງຕີຣະຖະອັນໃຫຍ່ທັງຫຼາຍ ທີ່ໂດ່ງດັງຢູ່ທີ່ນັ້ນ.

Word by Word

• यानि: which
• यानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — relative pronoun agreeing with 'तीर्थानि'

• तीर्थानि: sacred fords/pilgrimage places
• तीर्थानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Nominative plural

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• विश्रुतानि: well-known
• विश्रुतानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle used adjectivally), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — qualifying 'तीर्थानि'

• महान्ति: great
• महान्ति: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — qualifying 'तीर्थानि'

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• इदानीम्: now
• इदानीम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इदानीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• कथय: tell
• कथय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु, णिजन्त)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन — tell/narrate

• अस्माकम्: to us / for us
• अस्माकम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन — Genitive plural (of us)

• सूत: O Sūta
• सूत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन — Vocative

• सर्वार्थवित्: knower of all meanings/matters
• सर्वार्थवित्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + अर्थ + विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — tatpuruṣa: सर्वान् अर्थान् वेत्ति (knower of all matters)

• भवान्: you (honored one)
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — honorific pronoun

Speaker

Sages (Rishis) addressing Suta

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Tirtha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly define Ātman; it frames a traditional Purāṇic inquiry where sacred tīrthas are sought as supports for purification and right understanding that later culminate in spiritual knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yoga technique is stated here; the verse introduces tīrtha-kathā (teaching on pilgrimage sites), which in the Kurma Purana functions as a preparatory discipline—purifying conduct and intent—supportive of later yoga and dharma instructions.

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

This verse itself is neutral and narrative; by requesting tīrtha-teachings from Sūta, it participates in the Kurma Purana’s broader integrative framework where tīrthas and dharma are shared sacred ground across Shaiva-Vaishnava traditions.