Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

Vārāṇasī (Avimukta) Māhātmya and the Catalogue of Guhya-Tīrthas

Devanagari script

आकाशाख्यं महातीर्थं तीर्थं चैवार्षभं परम् / स्वर्नोलं च महातीर्थं गौरीतीर्थमनुत्तमम्

Transliteration

ākāśākhyaṃ mahātīrthaṃ tīrthaṃ caivārṣabhaṃ param / svarnolaṃ ca mahātīrthaṃ gaurītīrthamanuttamam

Translation

“Há o grande tīrtha chamado Ākāśākhya; e também o supremo Ṛṣabha-tīrtha. Há ainda Svarṇola, um grande tīrtha, e o incomparável Gaurī-tīrtha.”

Word by Word

• ākāśākhyam: called Ākāśa
• ākāśākhyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ākāśa + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; नामवाचक विशेषण (called ‘Ākāśa’)

• mahātīrtham: a great tīrtha
• mahātīrtham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• tīrtham: tīrtha
• tīrtham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic/only)

• ārṣabham: Ārṣabha
• ārṣabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ārṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; विशेषण/तीर्थनाम (Ārṣabha)

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; विशेषण

• svarnolam: Svarṇola (tīrtha)
• svarnolam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarṇa + ola (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; तीर्थनाम (reading as svarṇola)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• mahātīrtham: great tīrtha
• mahātīrtham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• gaurītīrtham: Gaurī-tīrtha
• gaurītīrtham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaurī + tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; तीर्थनाम

• anuttamam: unsurpassed
• anuttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s account to the sages, within a tirtha-kathā context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ākāśākhya Tīrtha
• Ārṣabha (Ṛṣabha) Tīrtha
• Svarṇola Tīrtha
• Gaurī Tīrtha
• Gaurī (Pārvatī/Devī)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly define Ātman; it emphasizes tīrtha-smaraṇa and tīrtha-mahima—outer sacred geography that, in Purāṇic theology, supports inner purification conducive to Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yogic technique is named here; the practice implied is tīrtha-yātrā and reverential remembrance of sacred sites, traditionally paired with vows, bathing (snāna), japa, and restraint as preparatory disciplines.

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

By foregrounding Gaurī-tīrtha (Devī associated with Śiva) within a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa framework, the verse reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: devotion and sacred merit transcend sectarian boundaries.