Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45

Avimukta-Māhātmya — Vyāsa in Vārāṇasī and Śiva’s Secret Teaching of Liberation

Devanagari script

प्रायागं नैमिषं पुण्यं श्रीशैलो ऽथ महालयः / केदारं भद्रकर्णं च गया पुष्करमेव च

Transliteration

prāyāgaṃ naimiṣaṃ puṇyaṃ śrīśailo 'tha mahālayaḥ / kedāraṃ bhadrakarṇaṃ ca gayā puṣkarameva ca

Translation

ప్రయాగ, పుణ్యమైన నైమిషం, శ్రీశైలం మరియు మహాలయం; కేదారం, భద్రకర్ణం, గయా, పుష్కరం కూడా—ఇవి అన్నీ పవిత్ర తీర్థస్థానాలు.

Word by Word

• prāyāgam: Prayāga
• prāyāgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāyāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थान-नाम), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• naimiṣam: Naimiṣa
• naimiṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naimiṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थान-नाम), द्वितीया, एकवचन

• puṇyam: holy
• puṇyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• śrī-śailaḥ: Śrīśaila
• śrī-śailaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī-śaila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (स्थान-नाम), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• atha: then/also
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conj./particle)

• mahālayaḥ: Mahālaya
• mahālayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (स्थान-नाम), प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kedāram: Kedāra
• kedāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kedāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (स्थान-नाम), द्वितीया, एकवचन

• bhadrakarṇam: Bhadrakarṇa
• bhadrakarṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadra-karṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थान-नाम), द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• gayā: Gayā
• gayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (स्थान-नाम), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• puṣkaram: Puṣkara
• puṣkaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थान-नाम), द्वितीया, एकवचन

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing King Indradyumna on tīrthas and dharma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Prayāga
• Naimiṣa
• Śrīśaila
• Mahālaya
• Kedāra
• Bhadrakarṇa
• Gayā
• Puṣkara

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches purification through tīrtha-yātrā; such purity supports inner realization of the Self taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana’s yoga and dharma sections.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes tīrtha-sevā and pilgrimage as preparatory disciplines (śuddhi-sādhana) that complement japa, vrata, and meditation described in the Purana’s broader yoga teachings.

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

By honoring prominent Śaiva tīrthas (Śrīśaila, Kedāra) within a Vaiṣṇava narration (Lord Kūrma), it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative Shaiva–Vaishnava sacred geography.