Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

अविमुक्तं परं ज्ञानमविमुक्तं परं पदम् / अविमुक्तं परं तत्त्वमविमुक्तं परं शिवम्

Transliteration

avimuktaṃ paraṃ jñānamavimuktaṃ paraṃ padam / avimuktaṃ paraṃ tattvamavimuktaṃ paraṃ śivam

Translation

“อวิมุกตะ” คือญาณอันสูงสุด; “อวิมุกตะ” คือสถานะอันสูงสุด. “อวิมุกตะ” คือสัจธรรมอันยิ่ง; “อวิมุกตะ” คือพระศิวะผู้สูงสุดเอง

Word by Word

• avimuktam: Avimukta
• avimuktam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-vimukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; स्थान-नाम

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karma/Predicate (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• avimuktam: Avimukta
• avimuktam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-vimukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• padam: state/abode
• padam: Karma/Predicate (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• avimuktam: Avimukta
• avimuktam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-vimukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• tattvam: principle/reality
• tattvam: Karma/Predicate (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• avimuktam: Avimukta
• avimuktam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-vimukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• śivam: Śiva/auspiciousness
• śivam: Karma/Predicate (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Traditional narration in the Kurma Purana’s tirtha-mahatmya context (a sage/narrator describing Avimukta’s supremacy, aligned with Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Avimukta (Kashi/Varanasi)
• Shiva

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By equating Avimukta with supreme knowledge, highest abode, and ultimate Reality, the verse points to a non-dual vision where liberation is grounded in realizing the highest tattva—identified here with Shiva as the Supreme.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes jñāna (liberating knowledge) as the direct means: contemplation on the supreme tattva and steadfast remembrance of Shiva in the sanctified field of Avimukta—an approach consistent with Kurma Purana’s integration of devotion, sacred place, and yogic realization.

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

It presents a synthesis typical of the Kurma Purana: the supreme reality is expressed through Shiva (śivam) while the Purana’s broader frame often harmonizes Shaiva and Vaishnava theologies, treating the Supreme as one though praised by different names.