Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 95

Prāyaścitta for Theft, Forbidden Foods, Impurity, and Ritual Lapses; Tīrtha–Vrata Remedies; Pativratā Mahātmyam via Sītā and Agni

Devanagari script

पुण्यक्षेत्राभिगमनं सर्वपापविनाशनम् / देवताभ्यर्चनं नॄणामशेषाघविनाशनम्

Transliteration

puṇyakṣetrābhigamanaṃ sarvapāpavināśanam / devatābhyarcanaṃ nṝṇāmaśeṣāghavināśanam

Translation

புண்ணியத் தலங்களுக்கு யாத்திரை செல்வது எல்லாப் பாவங்களையும் அழிக்கும்; மேலும் மனிதர்களுக்கு தேவதைகளை அர்ச்சிப்பது எல்லா அக்கிரமத்தையும் முற்றிலும் நீக்கும்।

Word by Word

• पुण्य-क्षेत्र-अभिगमनम्: going to a holy place
• पुण्य-क्षेत्र-अभिगमनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिगमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुण्यस्य क्षेत्रस्य अभिगमनम्)

• सर्व-पाप-विनाशनम्: destroying all sins
• सर्व-पाप-विनाशनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पुण्यक्षेत्राभिगमनस्य)

• देवता-अभ्यर्चनम्: worship of the deities
• देवता-अभ्यर्चनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक) + अभ्यर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवतायाः अभ्यर्चनम्)

• नॄणाम्: of men
• नॄणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अशेष-अघ-विनाशनम्: destroying all wrongdoing/sin without remainder
• अशेष-अघ-विनाशनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक) + अघ (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (देवताभ्यर्चनस्य)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma and tīrtha-mahātmyam

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Vishnu
• Devatā
• Puṇyakṣetra
• Tīrtha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes purification (pāpa-kṣaya) through tīrtha-yātrā and deva-pūjā, preparing the mind for higher knowledge of the Self taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Not a technical meditation instruction; it highlights preparatory sādhana—pilgrimage and deity-worship—as purificatory disciplines that support steadiness of mind required for Yoga and jñāna.

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

By praising devatā-arcana without sectarian limitation, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthetic stance: sincere worship of the divine (including Śiva and Viṣṇu) functions as a common means of purification.