Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 36
Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rudra’s Samanvaya Teaching
Maṅkaṇaka Episode
अन्यत् कोकामुखं विष्णोस्तीर्थमद्भुतकर्मणः / मृतो ऽत्र पातकैर्मुक्तो विष्णुसारूप्यमाप्नुयात्
anyat kokāmukhaṃ viṣṇostīrthamadbhutakarmaṇaḥ / mṛto 'tra pātakairmukto viṣṇusārūpyamāpnuyāt
अन्यदपि विष्णोः कोकामुखं नाम तीर्थमस्ति, अद्भुतकर्मणः प्रसिद्धम्। यः तत्र म्रियते स पातकैर्मुक्तो विष्णुसारूप्यमाप्नुयात्।
Sūta (narrator) recounting the tirtha-mahatmya as taught in the Purana’s dialogue tradition
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
Indirectly: it frames liberation as attaining Viṣṇu’s sāyujya-type proximity through sārūpya (sharing the divine form), implying the Supreme is the final refuge beyond sin and karmic limitation.
This verse emphasizes tīrtha-sevā and sacred death (kṣetra-maraṇa) as a purificatory means; in the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching, such external dharma supports inner disciplines (japa, dhyāna, and devotion) leading toward mokṣa.
While explicitly Vaiṣṇava (Viṣṇu-tīrtha and Viṣṇu-sārūpya), the Kurma Purana’s overall synthesis treats tīrtha, dharma, and liberation as shared aims across Śaiva-Vaiṣṇava streams, harmonizing pilgrimage merit with yoga and devotion.