Shloka 8

Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Mahālaya, Kedāra, Rivers and Fords, and Devadāru Forest

Akṣaya-Karma Doctrine

Devanagari script

तीर्थं प्लक्षावतरणं सर्वपापविनाशनम् / तत्राभ्यर्च्य श्रीनिवासं विष्णुलोके महीयते

Transliteration

tīrthaṃ plakṣāvataraṇaṃ sarvapāpavināśanam / tatrābhyarcya śrīnivāsaṃ viṣṇuloke mahīyate

Translation

പ്ലക്ഷാവതരണം എന്ന തീര്‍ഥം സകലപാപനാശിനിയാണ്. അവിടെ ശ്രീനിവാസനെ ആരാധിക്കുന്നവന്‍ വിഷ്ണുലോകത്തില്‍ മഹത്വം ലഭിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• तीर्थम्: sacred ford/pilgrimage place
• तीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• प्लक्ष-अवतरणम्: the descent/landing at Plakṣa
• प्लक्ष-अवतरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + अवतरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (plakṣasya avataraṇam)

• सर्व-पाप-विनाशनम्: destroyer of all sins
• सर्व-पाप-विनाशनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (sarvapāpānāṃ vināśanam)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), परस्मैपदी; ‘having worshipped’

• श्री-निवासम्: Śrīnivāsa (abode of Lakṣmī; Viṣṇu)
• श्री-निवासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + निवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śriyāḥ nivāsaḥ)

• विष्णु-लोके: in Viṣṇu’s world
• विष्णु-लोके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (viṣṇoḥ lokaḥ)

• महीयते: is honored/glorified
• महीयते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (is honored/is glorified)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (tirtha-mahatmya narration)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Plakshavatarana
• Shrinivasa
• Vishnu
• Vishnuloka
• Tirtha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it presents the Supreme as approachable through sacred space and devotion—worship of Śrīnivāsa at a tīrtha leads the devotee toward the Lord’s realm, implying a soteriological link between right worship and ultimate transcendence.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes bhakti and ritual worship (abhyarcana) at a tīrtha rather than a technical āsana-prāṇāyāma regimen; it aligns with Kurma Purana’s broader discipline where purity, pilgrimage, and focused devotion support inner yoga.

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

Though Vishnu-centric in wording (Śrīnivāsa, Viṣṇuloka), it fits the Kurma Purana’s integrative frame: tīrtha-mahātmyas function as shared dharmic means where sectarian boundaries soften and devotion becomes a common path to liberation.