Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 17

Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rudra’s Samanvaya Teaching

Maṅkaṇaka Episode

Devanagari script

तत्र स्नानं तपः श्राद्धं ब्राह्मणानां च पूजनम् / कृत्वा लोकमवाप्नोति ब्रह्मणो ऽक्षय्यमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

tatra snānaṃ tapaḥ śrāddhaṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ ca pūjanam / kṛtvā lokamavāpnoti brahmaṇo 'kṣayyamuttamam

Translation

അവിടെ സ്നാനം, തപസ്, ശ്രാദ്ധം, ബ്രാഹ്മണപൂജ എന്നിവ നടത്തി മനുഷ്യൻ ബ്രഹ്മന്റെ പരമവും അക്ഷയവുമായ ലോകം പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom./Acc. sg.)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom./Acc. sg.)

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite (ancestral offering)
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom./Acc. sg.)

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन (Gen. pl.)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• पूजनम्: worship
• पूजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom./Acc. sg.)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having done’

• लोकम्: world/realm
• लोकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg.)

• अवाप्नोति: attains
• अवाप्नोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-āp (आप् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन (3rd sg.)

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahman
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (Gen. sg.)

• अक्षय्यम्: imperishable
• अक्षय्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-kṣayya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg.), विशेषण (qualifier of ‘लोकम्’)

• उत्तमम्: supreme
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg.), विशेषण (qualifier of ‘लोकम्’)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/Indradyumna on tīrtha-dharma and meritorious observances

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Brāhmaṇas
• Pitṛs (implied via śrāddha)
• Tīrtha (implied via tatra/snānā)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames the highest goal as attainment of the imperishable “realm of Brahman,” pointing to Brahman/Ātman as the undecaying supreme reality, reached through purified dharma-informed practice rather than mere worldly reward.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes tapas (disciplined austerity) alongside tīrtha-snānā (ritual purification) and śrāddha (duty to ancestors). In the Kurma Purana’s dharma-yoga ethos, these acts function as preparatory purification supporting higher contemplative realization.

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

While not naming Śiva explicitly, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: liberation-oriented fruit (Brahman-attainment) is presented as accessible through orthodox dharma (tapas, śrāddha, honoring brāhmaṇas), harmonizing sectarian paths under a single supreme goal.