Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 76

Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rudra’s Samanvaya Teaching

Maṅkaṇaka Episode

Devanagari script

एतत् पवित्रमतुलं तीर्थं ब्रह्मर्षिसेवितम् / संसेव्य ब्राह्मणो विद्वान् मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः

Transliteration

etat pavitramatulaṃ tīrthaṃ brahmarṣisevitam / saṃsevya brāhmaṇo vidvān mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ

Translation

Ang banal at walang kapantay na tīrtha na ito ay pinaglilingkuran ng mga dakilang Brahmarṣi. Ang isang marunong na brāhmaṇa, sa wastong pagdulog at paglingap dito, ay mapapalaya mula sa lahat ng kasalanan.

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पवित्रम्: holy; purifying
• पवित्रम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (qualifies तीर्थम्)

• अतुलम्: incomparable
• अतुलम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (qualifies तीर्थम्)

• तीर्थम्: sacred ford; pilgrimage place
• तीर्थम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ब्रह्म-ऋषि-सेवितम्: served/visited by Brahmarṣis
• ब्रह्म-ऋषि-सेवितम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः ‘ब्रह्मर्षिभिः सेवितम्’; सेवित = भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) from सेव् (धातु)

• संसेव्य: having frequented; having served
• संसेव्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + सेव् (धातु) → संसेव्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having resorted to/served’

• ब्राह्मणः: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विद्वान्: learned; wise
• विद्वान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक; from विद् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण (as adjective) ‘learned’

• मुच्यते: is freed
• मुच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/मध्यभावे (passive/middle sense) ‘is released’

• सर्व-पातकैः: from all sins
• सर्व-पातकैः: Apadana (अपादान/Separation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘सर्वाणि पातकानि’ (all sins)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the tīrtha-māhātmya taught in the Kurma Purana tradition

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmarshi
• Tirtha
• Brahmana

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that purification (pavitrīkaraṇa) removes the obscurations of pāpa that veil discernment, enabling the learned seeker to abide more steadily in right knowledge of the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes tīrtha-sevā as a supportive discipline—outer purification and dharmic observance that complements inner yoga (restraint, purity, and contemplation) taught across the Purana’s śaiva–vaiṣṇava synthesis.

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

By focusing on tīrtha and sage-sanctioned purification rather than sectarian markers, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian, integrative spirit where dharma and purity serve devotion to the one Supreme revered as both Śiva and Viṣṇu.