Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

केदारतीर्थमुग्राख्यं कालञ्जरमनुत्तमम् / सारस्वतं प्रभासं च भद्रकर्णं ह्रदं शुभम्

Transliteration

kedāratīrthamugrākhyaṃ kālañjaramanuttamam / sārasvataṃ prabhāsaṃ ca bhadrakarṇaṃ hradaṃ śubham

Translation

‘ഉഗ്ര’ എന്ന പേരിൽ പ്രസിദ്ധമായ കേദാരതീർത്ഥം, അനുത്തമമായ കാലഞ്ജരം, സാരസ്വതം, പ്രഭാസം, കൂടാതെ ‘ഭദ്രകർണം’ എന്ന ശുഭ ഹ്രദം—ഇവയെല്ലാം പുണ്യ തീർത്ഥങ്ങളാണ്.

Word by Word

• केदारतीर्थम्: Kedāra-tīrtha (the Kedāra pilgrimage place)
• केदारतीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केदार-तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; केदार + तीर्थ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

• उग्राख्यम्: called ‘Ugra’
• उग्राख्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र-आख्य (प्रातिपदिक; उग्र + आख्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter; विशेषण (qualifier)

• कालञ्जरम्: Kālañjara (tīrtha/place)
• कालञ्जरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालञ्जर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed, excellent
• अनुत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter; विशेषण

• सारस्वतम्: Sārasvata (tīrtha)
• सारस्वतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारस्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

• प्रभासम्: Prabhāsa (tīrtha)
• प्रभासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular masculine

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• भद्रकर्णम्: Bhadrakarṇa (tīrtha)
• भद्रकर्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र-कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; भद्र + कर्ण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

• ह्रदम्: lake, pool
• ह्रदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ह्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular masculine

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular masculine; विशेषण

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting the tirtha-listing within the Kurma Purana’s discourse to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kedāra Tīrtha
• Ugra (name-epithet of the tīrtha)
• Kālañjara
• Sārasvata Tīrtha
• Prabhāsa Tīrtha
• Bhadrakarṇa Hrada

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by mapping sacred geography (tīrthas) as supports for purification, the verse implies that inner realization of the Self is approached through śuddhi (purity) gained by dharma-based acts like pilgrimage.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse itself lists tīrthas rather than techniques; in the Kurma Purana’s broader framework, tīrtha-sevā functions as an auxiliary discipline—supporting tapas, japa, and devotion—aligned with Pāśupata-leaning purification prior to deeper yoga.

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

By honoring pan-Indic tīrthas revered across Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions (e.g., Kedāra, Prabhāsa), the verse reflects the Purana’s integrative stance: sacred places are shared avenues to one supreme reality approached through multiple names and forms.