Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 14
Tīrtha-Māhātmya and the Discipline of Pilgrimage (Tīrtha-sevā) within Prāyaścitta
तत्र स्नात्वा महादेवं पूजयित्वा वृषध्वजम् / सर्वपापैर्विमुच्येत मृतस्तज्ज्ञानमाप्नुयात्
tatra snātvā mahādevaṃ pūjayitvā vṛṣadhvajam / sarvapāpairvimucyeta mṛtastajjñānamāpnuyāt
तेथे स्नान करून वृषध्वज महादेवाची पूजा केल्यास सर्व पापांपासून मुक्ती मिळते; आणि तेथेच मृत्यू आल्यास त्यांचे तत्त्वज्ञान प्राप्त होते।
Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing in a tīrtha-māhātmya context (Shaiva-Vaishnava harmony)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It points to liberation through "tajjñāna"—the liberating knowledge of the Lord—implying that freedom is ultimately achieved not only by ritual purity but by realization/knowledge that culminates in mokṣa.
The verse highlights preparatory purification (snāna at a tīrtha) and focused devotion (pūjā of Mahādeva). In Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-leaning framework, such acts support inner purity and steadiness that mature into liberating jñāna.
With Lord Kūrma teaching the fruit of worshipping Śiva, the text models Shaiva–Vaishnava unity: devotion to Mahādeva is validated within a Vaishnava narrator’s instruction, emphasizing one liberating Reality approached through Śiva.