Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 1
Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rudra’s Samanvaya Teaching
Maṅkaṇaka Episode
इती श्रीकूर्मपुराणे षट्साहस्त्र्यां संहितायामुपरिविभागे त्रयस्त्रिशो ऽध्यायः ऋषय ऊचुः तीर्थानि यानि लोके ऽस्मिन् विश्रुतानि माहन्ति च / तानि त्वं कथयास्माकं रोमहर्षण सांप्रतम्
itī śrīkūrmapurāṇe ṣaṭsāhastryāṃ saṃhitāyāmuparivibhāge trayastriśo 'dhyāyaḥ ṛṣaya ūcuḥ tīrthāni yāni loke 'smin viśrutāni māhanti ca / tāni tvaṃ kathayāsmākaṃ romaharṣaṇa sāṃpratam
இவ்வாறு ஸ்ரீகூர்மபுராணத்தின் ஷட்ஸாஹஸ்ரீ ஸம்ஹிதையின் உத்தரவிபாகத்தில் முப்பத்திமூன்றாம் அதிகாரம் தொடங்குகிறது. ரிஷிகள் கூறினர்— ஓ ரோமஹர்ஷணா! இவ்வுலகில் புகழ்பெற்றும் மிகப் போற்றத்தக்கதுமான தீர்த்தங்களை எங்களுக்கு இப்போது உரைத்தருள்வாயாக।
The sages (ṛṣis), addressing Romaharṣaṇa (Sūta)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
This verse does not directly define Ātman; it sets the narrative frame for teaching dharma through tīrtha-māhātmya—where inner purity and right understanding are traditionally linked with sacred places and their disciplines.
No specific yoga practice is stated in this verse; it introduces a section on tīrthas, which in Purāṇic tradition supports sādhana through vows, bathing, japa, and worship performed at sanctified locations.
It does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; however, the Kurma Purāṇa’s broader Upari-bhāga context commonly presents pilgrimage and worship as a shared dharmic field supporting Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.