Shloka 39

Narmadā-tīrtha-māhātmya — Bhṛgu-tīrtha to Sāgara-saṅgama

Pilgrimage Circuit, Gifts, Fasting, and Imperishable Merit

Devanagari script

अश्रद्दधानाः पुरुषा नास्तिक्यं घोरमाश्रिताः / पतन्ति नरके घोरे इत्याह परमेश्वरः

Transliteration

aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā nāstikyaṃ ghoramāśritāḥ / patanti narake ghore ityāha parameśvaraḥ

Translation

ผู้คนที่ไร้ศรัทธาและยึดถืออเทวนิยมอันน่ากลัว ย่อมตกสู่นรกอันสยดสยอง—ดังที่พระผู้เป็นเจ้าสูงสุดทรงประกาศ

Word by Word

• aśraddadhānāḥ: faithless, without trust
• aśraddadhānāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-śraddadhāna (कृदन्त; √dhā धातु, शतृ/शानच्; with neg. a-)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; present participle (वर्तमानकृदन्त) used adjectivally

• puruṣāḥ: men, persons
• puruṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• nāstikyam: atheism, disbelief
• nāstikyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāstikya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• ghoram: terrible
• ghoram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of nāstikyam

• āśritāḥ: having resorted to, embraced
• āśritāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-śrita (कृदन्त; √śri धातु, क्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; past passive participle (भूतकृदन्त) used as predicate adjective; takes object in accusative (nāstikyam)

• patanti: fall
• patanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pat (पत् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• narake: in hell
• narake: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti (सप्तमी/Locative), Ekavacana

• ghore: terrible
• ghore: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of narake

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात) marking reported speech

• āha: said
• āha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (अह् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्/Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• parameśvaraḥ: the Supreme Lord
• parameśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama-īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya ‘paramaḥ īśvaraḥ’

Speaker

Parameśvara (the Supreme Lord) as quoted in the narrative (Kurma Purana teaching discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Parameshvara
• Naraka
• Shraddha
• Nastikya

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by calling the teaching-source “Parameśvara,” it frames dharma as grounded in Īśvara’s authority; faith (śraddhā) becomes a necessary disposition for right knowledge and right action that ultimately supports realization of the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No technique is prescribed in this verse; it stresses the prerequisite of śraddhā. In Kurma Purana’s broader yogic frame (including Pāśupata-oriented devotion and discipline), faith in Īśvara and dharma is treated as foundational for sādhana to bear fruit.

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

By using the inclusive title “Parameśvara,” the verse aligns with the Purana’s synthetic theology: the Supreme Lord who upholds dharma is ultimately one, even when approached through Śaiva or Vaiṣṇava forms.