Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 52

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

Akṣaya-Karma Doctrine

Devanagari script

ये ऽत्र मामर्चयन्तीह लोके धर्मपरा जनाः / तेषां ददामि परमं गाणपत्यं हि शाश्वतम्

Transliteration

ye 'tra māmarcayantīha loke dharmaparā janāḥ / teṣāṃ dadāmi paramaṃ gāṇapatyaṃ hi śāśvatam

Translation

Yaong mga tao sa mundong ito na tapat sa dharma at sumasamba sa Akin dito—sa kanila Ko ipinagkakaloob ang pinakamataas at walang hanggang katayuang Gaṇapatya, ang pagkapanginoon sa hanay ng mga Gaṇa.

Word by Word

• ye: those who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: here)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (1st person pronoun, Accusative, Singular)

• arcayanti: worship
• arcayanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative/denominative: worship)

• iha: in this place
• iha: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: here)

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Locative, Singular)

• dharma-parāḥ: devoted to dharma
• dharma-parāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (dharme parāḥ / dharmaṃ parāḥ: devoted to dharma); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• janāḥ: people
• janāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• teṣām: to them; of them
• teṣām: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Plural)

• dadāmi: I give
• dadāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (1st person singular present)

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• gāṇapatyam: state of being a Gaṇapati; Gaṇeśa-status
• gāṇapatyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāṇapatya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निश्चय/हेतुवाचक निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• śāśvatam: eternal
• śāśvatam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāśvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing within the Kūrma Purāṇa’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis framework

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu)
• Gaṇas
• Gaṇapati (as the principle of gaṇa-lordship)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting the Lord as the direct giver of the highest state to dharma-rooted worshippers, the verse implies a supreme governing Self (Īśvara) who dispenses spiritual attainment as grace (anugraha) in response to disciplined devotion.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds arcana (ritual worship) anchored in dharma as a valid sādhana; in the Kūrma Purāṇa’s broader Pāśupata-leaning ethic, such worship is strengthened by yama-niyama-like restraints, purity, and steadfast conduct.

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

Although spoken by Kūrma (Viṣṇu), the promised fruit is “gāṇapatya” (gaṇa-lordship), a Shaiva-coded attainment—reflecting the Purāṇa’s non-sectarian synthesis where devotion to the Supreme bridges Shaiva and Vaishnava spiritual goals.