Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

Avimukta-Māhātmya — Vyāsa in Vārāṇasī and Śiva’s Secret Teaching of Liberation

Devanagari script

नानावर्णा विवर्णाश्च चण्डालाद्या जुगुप्सिताः / किल्बिषैः पूर्णदेहा ये विशिष्टैः पातकैस्तथा / भेषजं परमं तेषामविमुक्तं विदुर्बुधाः

Transliteration

nānāvarṇā vivarṇāśca caṇḍālādyā jugupsitāḥ / kilbiṣaiḥ pūrṇadehā ye viśiṣṭaiḥ pātakaistathā / bheṣajaṃ paramaṃ teṣāmavimuktaṃ vidurbudhāḥ

Translation

ନାନାବର୍ଣ୍ଣର ଓ ପତିତ ଅବସ୍ଥାର—ଚଣ୍ଡାଳାଦି ଜୁଗୁପ୍ସିତ ଲୋକ, ଯାହାଙ୍କ ଦେହ ଯେନ ପାପ ଓ ବିଶେଷ ମହାପାତକରେ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ—ସେମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅବିମୁକ୍ତ (କାଶୀ) କୁ ପଣ୍ଡିତମାନେ ପରମ ଔଷଧ, ସର୍ବୋଚ୍ଚ ପ୍ରତିକାର ଭାବେ ଜାଣନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• nānāvarṇāḥ: of various castes/colors
• nānāvarṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā-varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण

• vivarṇāḥ: discolored/degenerate
• vivarṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• caṇḍāla-ādyāḥ: Chāṇḍālas and the like
• caṇḍāla-ādyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caṇḍāla-ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ सहित समास (ending with ‘etc.’)

• jugupsitāḥ: despised
• jugupsitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jugupsita (कृदन्त; √gup/√gups? ‘to despise’—भूतकृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• kilbiṣaiḥ: by sins
• kilbiṣaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kilbiṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• pūrṇa-dehāḥ: having bodies filled (with)
• pūrṇa-dehāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa-deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• viśiṣṭaiḥ: with particular/special
• viśiṣṭaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśiṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• pātakaiḥ: sins
• pātakaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• tathā: likewise/also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• bheṣajam: remedy/medicine
• bheṣajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bheṣaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; विशेषण

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• avimuktam: Avimukta (sacred place)
• avimuktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-vimukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; स्थान-नाम (proper noun)

• viduḥ: know
• viduḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• budhāḥ: the wise
• budhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s tirtha-mahātmya context; the verse presents the received view of the budhāḥ/wise)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Avimukta
• Kāśī (Varanasi)
• Caṇḍāla

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames liberation and purification as accessible through Avimukta (Kāśī), implying that even those burdened by heavy pāpa can be oriented toward the highest good—knowledge and release—when supported by a supreme sacred locus associated with Śiva’s liberating grace.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yogic technique is taught in this verse; the emphasis is tīrtha-upāsanā—approaching Avimukta as the ‘parama-bheṣaja’ (supreme remedy). In Kurma Purana’s broader spirituality, such tirtha-sevā is often paired with vrata, japa, śauca, and devotion that prepare one for higher yogic discipline.

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

By exalting Avimukta (a quintessential Śaiva sacred space) within a Vaiṣṇava-authoritative Purāṇic framework, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthetic stance: liberation is affirmed through Śiva’s Kashi-mahātmya without contradicting Vishnu’s overarching puranic voice.