Shloka 57

Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Mahālaya, Kedāra, Rivers and Fords, and Devadāru Forest

Akṣaya-Karma Doctrine

Devanagari script

यत्रेस्वरो महादेवो विष्णुर्वा पुरुषोत्तमः / तत्र सन्निहिता गङ्गातीर्थान्यायतनानि च

Transliteration

yatresvaro mahādevo viṣṇurvā puruṣottamaḥ / tatra sannihitā gaṅgātīrthānyāyatanāni ca

Translation

ఎక్కడ ఈశ్వరుడు మహాదేవుడిగా గాని, విష్ణువు పురుషోత్తముడిగా గాని సన్నిహితుడై ఉంటాడో, అక్కడే గంగా మరియు ఆమె సమస్త తీర్థాలు, అలాగే పవిత్ర ఆయతన-క్షేత్రాలు నిజంగా ఉన్నవని భావించాలి.

Word by Word

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय (relative adverb: where)

• ईश्वरः: the Lord
• ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महादेवः: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahādeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: महान् देवः

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: or)

• पुरुषोत्तमः: the Supreme Person
• पुरुषोत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: पुरुषाणाम् उत्तमः

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (correlative adverb: there)

• सन्निहिताः: present; situated
• सन्निहिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sannihita (प्रातिपदिक; सन्निहित = सम्+नि+√dhā? / √hā? PPP ‘placed/being present’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with following plural nouns)

• गङ्गातीर्थानि: Ganges holy fords
• गङ्गातीर्थानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā + tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समास: गङ्गायाः तीर्थानि (Ganges’ sacred fords)

• आयतनानि: abodes; shrines
• आयतनानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyatana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

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

Speaker

Traditional Purāṇic narrator (as part of the Kurma Purana’s sacred-geography instruction)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Mahadeva
• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Purusottama
• Ganga
• Tirtha
• Ayatana

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By identifying the same Īśvara as present in both Mahādeva and Puruṣottama, the verse implies a single supreme reality manifesting through different divine forms; sanctity arises from that one presence rather than from location alone.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is listed, but the verse supports a key yogic principle used in Kurma Purana’s broader teaching: contemplation of Īśvara’s omnipresence. Pilgrimage becomes an aid to bhakti and dhyāna because the practitioner learns to recognize the Lord’s presence wherever He is realized.

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

It presents a synthesis: the Lord is equally Mahādeva and Viṣṇu (Puruṣottama). The holiness of Gaṅgā-tīrthas and shrines is grounded in this shared Īśvara-presence, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s non-dual, non-sectarian approach.