Shloka 4

Prayāga-māhātmya and Ṛṇa-pramocana-tīrtha — Māgha-snāna, Austerities, and Release from Debts

Devanagari script

जलप्रवेशं यः कुर्यात् संगमे लोकविश्रुते / राहुग्रस्तो यथा सोमो विमुक्तः सर्वपातकैः

Transliteration

jalapraveśaṃ yaḥ kuryāt saṃgame lokaviśrute / rāhugrasto yathā somo vimuktaḥ sarvapātakaiḥ

Translation

లోకవిఖ్యాత సంగమంలో జలంలో మునిగిస్నానం చేసినవాడు సమస్త పాపాల నుండి విముక్తుడవుతాడు—రాహుగ్రస్తుడైన సోముడు (చంద్రుడు) మళ్లీ విడిపడినట్లుగా।

Word by Word

• जलप्रवेशम्: entry into the water
• जलप्रवेशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल+प्रवेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म; समासः—तत्पुरुष (जले प्रवेशः)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• कुर्यात्: should do; would perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• संगमे: at the confluence
• संगमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• लोकविश्रुते: renowned in the world
• लोकविश्रुते: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक+विश्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण; कृदन्त (वि+√श्रु → विश्रुत ‘renowned’); समासः—तत्पुरुष (लोके विश्रुतः)

• राहुग्रस्तः: seized by Rāhu
• राहुग्रस्तः: Upamana (उपमान/standard of comparison)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राहु+ग्रस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण; कृदन्त (√ग्रस् ‘to seize’ → ग्रस्त ‘seized’); समासः—तत्पुरुष (राहुणा ग्रस्तः)

• यथा: as; like
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/comparator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle: as/like)

• सोमः: the Moon (Soma)
• सोमः: Upameya (उपमेय/thing compared)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विमुक्तः: freed; released
• विमुक्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+मुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √मुच् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (freed)

• सर्वपातकैः: from all sins
• सर्वपातकैः: Karana (करण/Instrument-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व+पातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; करण/हेतु; कर्मधारय (सर्वाणि पातकानि)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing on tīrtha-dharma and the purificatory power of saṅgama-snānā

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rahu
• Soma (Moon)
• Saṅgama (sacred confluence)
• Tīrtha (pilgrimage ford)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By stressing purification through disciplined sacred action (tīrtha-snānā), the verse implies that obscurations (pātaka) are removable; the underlying purity of the self is not destroyed, only temporarily veiled—like the Moon during an eclipse.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights preparatory purity (śauca) and dharmic observance—outer disciplines that support inner Yoga. In the Kurma Purana’s broader spiritual program, such purification complements later contemplative practices by reducing karmic impediments.

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

Though Vishnu as Lord Kūrma speaks, the teaching aligns with shared Purāṇic dharma (tīrtha, śauca, prāyaścitta) honored across Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s synthesis rather than sectarian separation.