Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 5

Tīrtha-Māhātmya and the Discipline of Pilgrimage (Tīrtha-sevā) within Prāyaścitta

Devanagari script

तीर्थं पञ्चतपं नाम शंभोरमिततेजसः / यत्र देवादिदेवेन चक्रार्थं पूजितो भवः

Transliteration

tīrthaṃ pañcatapaṃ nāma śaṃbhoramitatejasaḥ / yatra devādidevena cakrārthaṃ pūjito bhavaḥ

Translation

Есть тиртха по имени «Панчата́па», принадлежащая Шамбху, чьё сияние неизмеримо; там Бхава (Шива) был почтён поклонением Богом богов (Вишну) ради обретения чакры, божественного диска.

Word by Word

• tīrtham: a sacred ford
• tīrtham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विषय/उद्देश्य (naming construction)

• pañcatapam: Pañcatapa
• pañcatapam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca-tapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; नामधेय (as name)

• nāma: named
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामनिर्देश (naming particle)

• śaṃbhoḥ: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• śaṃbhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• amita-tejasaḥ: of immeasurable splendor
• amita-tejasaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amita + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (śaṃbhoḥ)

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्ध/देशवाचक (relative adverb)

• devādidevena: by the God of gods
• devādidevena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva-ādi-deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण/कर्ता-हेतु (agent in passive)

• cakra-artham: for the sake of the discus
• cakra-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयोजन (purpose accusative)

• pūjitaḥ: was worshipped
• pūjitaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि ‘was worshipped’

• bhavaḥ: Bhava (Śiva)
• bhavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्ता/विषय (of pūjitaḥ)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing tīrthas; traditionally Sūta/authorial narration in Kurma Purana)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Śambhu/Bhava)
• Vishnu (Devādideva)
• Sudarshana Chakra (Cakra)
• Pañcatapa Tirtha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By depicting Viṣṇu worshipping Śiva, the verse points to a non-sectarian vision where the supreme reality is approached through different divine forms, implying an underlying unity beyond names and functions.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes pūjā (devotional worship) as a disciplined spiritual practice—an outward form of inner concentration—consistent with Purāṇic sādhanā that supports yogic steadiness and divine grace.

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

It presents a synthesis: Viṣṇu (devādideva) reveres Śiva (Bhava), suggesting complementary divine roles and a shared supreme status rather than rivalry—typical of the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava harmony.