Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Yamunā–Gaṅgā Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Agni-tīrtha, Anaraka, Prayāga, and the Tapovana of Jāhnavī

Devanagari script

महर्षोणामिदं गुह्यं सर्वपापप्रमोचनम् / अत्राधीत्य द्विजो ऽध्यायं निर्मलत्वमवाप्नुयात्

Transliteration

maharṣoṇāmidaṃ guhyaṃ sarvapāpapramocanam / atrādhītya dvijo 'dhyāyaṃ nirmalatvamavāpnuyāt

Translation

ଏହା ମହର୍ଷିମାନଙ୍କର ଗୁହ୍ୟ ଉପଦେଶ, ଯାହା ସମସ୍ତ ପାପରୁ ମୋଚନ କରେ। ଏଠାରେ ଏହି ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ ଅଧ୍ୟୟନ କଲେ ଦ୍ୱିଜ ଅନ୍ତଃଶୁଦ୍ଧି ପାଏ।

Word by Word

• maharṣīṇām: of the great sages
• maharṣīṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maharṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• idam: this
• idam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• guhyam: secret, esoteric
• guhyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; adjective

• sarva-pāpa-pramocanam: removing all sins
• sarva-pāpa-pramocanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + pramocana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'of all sins' + 'remover'

• atra: here, in this (text/teaching)
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• adhītya: having studied
• adhītya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi-√i (इ धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त) from अधि+√इ; 'having studied'

• dvijaḥ: a twice-born (Brahmin)
• dvijaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• adhyāyam: lesson, chapter
• adhyāyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular

• nirmalatvam: purity, stainlessness
• nirmalatvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirmalatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; abstract noun in -त्व

• avāpnuyāt: would obtain
• avāpnuyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√āp (आप् धातु)
• Form: Optative/Potential (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

Speaker

Suta (narrator) presenting the chapter’s phala-śruti / editorial assurance of merit

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Maharshi (great sages)
• Dvija (twice-born)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames scriptural study (adhyayana) as a purifier of the antaḥkaraṇa (inner instrument), which is a prerequisite for clear knowledge of the Self; purity supports realizing the Atman beyond sin and merit.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes adhyayana (disciplined study/recitation) as a sādhanā that purifies the mind—supporting Yoga practice such as mantra-japa, dhyāna, and Pāśupata-oriented inner cleansing taught in the Kurma Purana.

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

By presenting purification through sacred teaching rather than sectarian identity, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-competitive Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: the same dharma and sādhanā purify the seeker toward the one Supreme.