Avimukta-Māhātmya — Vyāsa in Vārāṇasī and Śiva’s Secret Teaching of Liberation
किमेतेषां भवेज्ज्यायः प्रब्रूहि मुनिपुङ्गव / यदि वा विद्यते ऽप्यन्यद् गुह्यं तद्वक्तुमर्हसि
kimeteṣāṃ bhavejjyāyaḥ prabrūhi munipuṅgava / yadi vā vidyate 'pyanyad guhyaṃ tadvaktumarhasi
ఓ మునిపుంగవా, వీటిలో ఏది శ్రేయస్కరం అనేది చెప్పండి. ఇంకా దీనికన్నా వేరే గూఢోపదేశం ఏదైనా ఉంటే, దానిని కూడా చెప్పవలసినవారు మీరు.
A disciple/inquirer (addressing a senior sage, munipuṅgava)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Indirectly: it frames a classic śreyas (highest good) inquiry, preparing the ground for teachings where the highest good is identified with liberating knowledge and disciplined practice oriented to the Supreme.
The verse itself is a request: it asks for the ‘higher’ path and for any ‘secret’ instruction—language typically used for yogic upadeśa (inner discipline, restraint, and contemplative methods) that culminate in liberation.
By seeking the ‘secret’ highest teaching from an authoritative sage, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s inclusive style where supreme instruction can be presented through Shaiva or Vaishnava idioms without contradiction, emphasizing one highest aim (moksha).