Shloka 133

Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion

Devanagari script

तीर्थानां परमं तीर्थं तपसां च परं तपः / ज्ञानानां परमं ज्ञानं व्रतानां परमं व्रतम्

Transliteration

tīrthānāṃ paramaṃ tīrthaṃ tapasāṃ ca paraṃ tapaḥ / jñānānāṃ paramaṃ jñānaṃ vratānāṃ paramaṃ vratam

Translation

Antara segala tīrtha (tempat ziarah suci), inilah tīrtha yang paling utama; antara segala tapas (pertapaan), inilah tapas yang tertinggi; antara segala jñāna (pengetahuan rohani), inilah jñāna yang paling luhur; dan antara segala vrata (nazar suci), inilah vrata yang paling tinggi.

Word by Word

• तीर्थानाम्: of sacred places/pilgrimages
• तीर्थानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• तीर्थम्: sacred place; pilgrimage
• तीर्थम्: विधेय (Predicate nominative/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• तपसाम्: of austerities
• तपसाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• परम्: highest
• परम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: विधेय (Predicate nominative/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• ज्ञानानाम्: of knowledges
• ज्ञानानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: विधेय (Predicate nominative/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• व्रतानाम्: of vows/observances
• व्रतानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• व्रतम्: vow; observance
• व्रतम्: विधेय (Predicate nominative/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching Dharma and inner pilgrimage (tīrtha) as part of Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kūrma (Vishnu)
• Dharma
• Tīrtha
• Tapas
• Jñāna
• Vrata

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By ranking “supreme knowledge” above all other knowledges, the verse points toward liberating jñāna—Self-realization that culminates in seeing the highest Reality as the final refuge and purifier, the true “inner tīrtha.”

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse frames Yoga as integrated discipline: tapas (austerity and restraint), vrata (regulated observances), and jñāna (contemplative realization). In Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-oriented tone, these function as supports for purification and steady meditation leading to liberation.

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

Though spoken by Lord Kūrma (Vishnu), it uses a Shaiva-leaning ascetic vocabulary (tapas, vrata, jñāna) common to Pāśupata practice, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the same Supreme is approached through shared disciplines.