Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

Prayāga-māhātmya and Ṛṇa-pramocana-tīrtha — Māgha-snāna, Austerities, and Release from Debts

Devanagari script

ततः स्वर्गात् परिभ्रष्टो जम्बूद्वीपपतिर्भवेत् / स भुक्त्वा विपुलान् भोगांस्तत् तीर्थं भजते पुनः

Transliteration

tataḥ svargāt paribhraṣṭo jambūdvīpapatirbhavet / sa bhuktvā vipulān bhogāṃstat tīrthaṃ bhajate punaḥ

Translation

Depois, ao cair de novo do céu, ele se torna soberano de Jambūdvīpa. Após fruir prazeres abundantes, volta a buscar, mais uma vez, aquele tīrtha, o vau sagrado.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter; from there
• ततः: सम्बन्ध/अधिकरण-निर्देश (Contextual/Temporal marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), तस्मात्-अर्थे (ablatival adverb): "thereafter/from that"

• स्वर्गात्: from heaven
• स्वर्गात्: अपादान (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• परिभ्रष्टः: fallen down; slipped away
• परिभ्रष्टः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari√bhraṃś (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• जम्बूद्वीपपतिः: lord of Jambūdvīpa
• जम्बूद्वीपपतिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jambūdvīpa + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (jambūdvīpasya patiḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Predicate action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भुक्त्वा: having enjoyed
• भुक्त्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhuj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having done)

• विपुलान्: abundant; great
• विपुलान्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vipula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (भोगान्)

• भोगान्: enjoyments
• भोगान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तीर्थम्)

• तीर्थम्: holy place; pilgrimage site
• तीर्थम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भजते: resorts to; worships; seeks
• भजते: क्रिया (Predicate action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhaj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), पुनरावृत्ति-अर्थे (again)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the Kurma Purana’s tirtha-mahātmya teaching to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Jambūdvīpa
• Svarga
• Tīrtha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it contrasts temporary heavenly reward and worldly sovereignty with the recurring impulse toward tīrtha-sevana, implying that lasting fulfillment is not in bhoga (enjoyment) but in dharmic, purifying pursuit that supports Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes tīrtha-sevana (pilgrimage and sacred observance) as a purificatory discipline; in Kurma Purana’s broader yoga-ethic, such purification supports steadiness of mind (citta-śuddhi) and readiness for higher practices like japa, vrata, and contemplation aligned with Pāśupata-oriented devotion.

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

While not naming them, the teaching fits the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: merit leads to svarga and kingship, yet the seeker returns to sanctifying dharma—tīrthas commonly associated with both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava worship—pointing to a shared path of purification beyond sectarian boundaries.