Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 25

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

Akṣaya-Karma Doctrine

Devanagari script

पुण्डरीकं महातीर्थं ब्राह्मणैरुपसेवितम् / तत्राभिगम्य युक्तात्मा पौण्डरीकफलं लभेत्

Transliteration

puṇḍarīkaṃ mahātīrthaṃ brāhmaṇairupasevitam / tatrābhigamya yuktātmā pauṇḍarīkaphalaṃ labhet

Translation

Ang Puṇḍarīka ay isang dakilang tīrtha na dinadalaw ng mga Brāhmaṇa. Ang sinumang pumunta roon na may disiplinado at nagkakaisang diwa ay magkakamit ng kabanalang tinatawag na “bunga ng Puṇḍarīka.”

Word by Word

• puṇḍarīkam: Puṇḍarīka (name of tīrtha)
• puṇḍarīkam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇḍarīka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• mahā-tīrtham: great pilgrimage place
• mahā-tīrtham: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘great tīrtha’

• brāhmaṇaiḥ: by Brahmins
• brāhmaṇaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• upasevitam: frequented
• upasevitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upasevita (कृदन्त; उप√सेव्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP): ‘served/visited’

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• abhigamya: having approached
• abhigamya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi√gam (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): ‘having approached/visited’

• yukta-ātmā: a disciplined-minded person
• yukta-ātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yukta (कृदन्त; √yuj) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘one whose self is disciplined/collected’

• pauṇḍarīka-phalam: the Puṇḍarīka fruit/result
• pauṇḍarīka-phalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pauṇḍarīka (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘fruit of Puṇḍarīka’

• labhet: would obtain
• labhet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/Indradyumna in a tirtha-mahatmya context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Puṇḍarīka Tīrtha
• Brāhmaṇas

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that inner integration (yuktātmā)—a mind yoked to dharma and yoga—is essential for sacred acts to bear higher spiritual fruit, pointing to the primacy of inner self-discipline over mere external travel.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The key practice is yuktātmā-bhāva: collectedness, restraint, and mindful intention while undertaking pilgrimage—aligned with Purāṇic yoga where purity of mind (citta-śuddhi) makes tirtha-visits spiritually efficacious.

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

While Shiva is not named, the verse reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: pilgrimage and yogic discipline are shared Shaiva–Vaishnava values, emphasizing inner yoga as the common ground of sectarian forms of worship.