Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16
Genealogies of Yadus and Vṛṣṇis; Navaratha’s Refuge to Sarasvatī; Rise of Sāttvata Tradition; Prelude to Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma Incarnation
राजा नवरथो भीत्या नातिदूरादनुत्तमम् / अपश्यत् परमं स्थानं सरस्वत्या सुगोपितम्
rājā navaratho bhītyā nātidūrādanuttamam / apaśyat paramaṃ sthānaṃ sarasvatyā sugopitam
Raja Navaratha, didorong oleh rasa takut, tidak jauh dari situ terlihat suatu tempat yang tiada bandingan—kediaman tertinggi yang terlindung rapi oleh Dewi Sungai Sarasvatī.
Sūta (narrator) describing the episode to the assembled sages
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
Indirectly: the “supreme abode” points to the Purāṇic idea that the highest reality is approached through sacred loci (tīrthas) and inner reverence, though this verse itself focuses on a concealed holy place rather than explicit ātman-doctrine.
No explicit yogic technique is stated; the verse emphasizes movement toward a sanctified, hidden space—often a narrative cue in the Kurma Purana that prepares for purification, vow-taking, and contemplative discipline associated with tīrtha-sevā.
This verse does not directly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; it supports the broader Purāṇic synthesis by foregrounding tīrtha-mahātmyas (sacred geography) as shared devotional ground across Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava traditions.