Shloka 12
Vārāṇasī (Avimukta) Māhātmya and the Catalogue of Guhya-Tīrthas
तमाह विष्णुस्त्वत्तो ऽपि रुद्रे भक्तिर्दृढा मम / तस्मात् प्रतिष्ठितं लिङ्गंनाम्ना तव भविष्यति
tamāha viṣṇustvatto 'pi rudre bhaktirdṛḍhā mama / tasmāt pratiṣṭhitaṃ liṅgaṃnāmnā tava bhaviṣyati
Viṣṇu berkata: “Wahai Rudra, bhakti-ku kepadamu teguh, bahkan mengatasi segala yang lain. Maka Liṅga yang ditegakkan ini akan dikenal dengan namamu sendiri.”
Vishnu (as a speaking deity within the Kurma Purana narrative)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
By presenting Vishnu’s unwavering devotion to Rudra and the sanctifying power of Rudra’s name, the verse points to a single supreme reality approached through different divine forms—supporting the Purana’s integrative (non-sectarian) vision of the one Ishvara.
The verse emphasizes bhakti as a core discipline: steadfast devotion (dṛḍhā bhakti) focused on Ishvara (Rudra). In Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis, such one-pointed devotion functions like yogic steadiness of mind, supporting inner concentration and worship-based sadhana.
It depicts reverence and unity rather than rivalry: Vishnu openly declares firm devotion to Rudra and authorizes the linga’s fame in Rudra’s name—an explicit statement of harmony central to the Kurma Purana’s Shiva-Vishnu non-dual devotional theology.