Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 59

Avimukta-Māhātmya — Vyāsa in Vārāṇasī and Śiva’s Secret Teaching of Liberation

Devanagari script

यत्र साक्षान्महादेवो देहान्ते स्वयमीश्वरः / व्याचष्टे तारकं ब्रह्म तत्रैव ह्यविमुक्तकम्

Transliteration

yatra sākṣānmahādevo dehānte svayamīśvaraḥ / vyācaṣṭe tārakaṃ brahma tatraiva hyavimuktakam

Translation

ദേഹാന്തസമയത്ത് സ്വയം ഈശ്വരനായ മഹാദേവൻ സാക്ഷാൽ പ്രത്യക്ഷമായി ‘താരക ബ്രഹ്മം’ ഉപദേശിക്കുന്ന സ്ഥലം—അതേ ‘അവിമുക്തകം’ എന്നു വിളിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു।

Word by Word

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: अधिकरण (locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (relative adverb of place: where)

• साक्षात्: directly, in person
• साक्षात्: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: directly, manifestly)

• महादेवः: Mahadeva (Shiva)
• महादेवः: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine, nominative, singular); कर्मधारयः (महान् देवः)

• देहान्ते: at the end of the body (at death)
• देहान्ते: अधिकरण (locus/time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (masculine, locative, singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (end of the body)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (reflexive/emphatic: himself)

• ईश्वरः: the Lord
• ईश्वरः: समानााधिकरण (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine, nominative, singular) — महादेवस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• व्याचष्टे: explains/teaches
• व्याचष्टे: क्रिया (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + आ + चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (present, 3rd person singular, middle)

• तारकम्: saving, delivering
• तारकम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, accusative, singular) — ब्रह्म-विशेषण

• ब्रह्म: Brahman / sacred formula
• ब्रह्म: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, accusative, singular)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (there)

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphasis)

• हि: indeed
• हि: हेतुसूचक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (indeed/for)

• अविमुक्तकम्: Avimuktaka (the sacred place)
• अविमुक्तकम्: कर्ता/कर्म (context: ‘is Avimuktaka’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविमुक्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थाननाम), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative, singular)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic discourse describing the sanctity of Avimuktaka/Kāśī and Śiva’s saving instruction at death)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mahadeva
• Shiva
• Ishvara
• Taraka Brahman
• Avimuktaka
• Kashi

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents liberation as arising from direct imparting of Brahman-knowledge (tāraka brahma) by Īśvara at death—implying that the saving truth is realization/knowledge of Brahman rather than mere ritual action.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes the culminating moment of practice: remembrance and reception of liberating Brahman-knowledge at death. In the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva/Pāśupata context, this aligns with steady devotion, mantra-orientation, and contemplative fixation on Īśvara so the final transition becomes a gateway to mokṣa.

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

By calling Mahādeva ‘Īśvara’ who grants Brahman-knowledge, the text frames liberation as bestowed by the one Supreme Lord—supporting the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where Śiva’s grace and Brahman-realization stand within an overarching unity of the divine.