Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 8

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

Akṣaya-Karma Doctrine

Devanagari script

तीर्थं प्लक्षावतरणं सर्वपापविनाशनम् / तत्राभ्यर्च्य श्रीनिवासं विष्णुलोके महीयते

Transliteration

tīrthaṃ plakṣāvataraṇaṃ sarvapāpavināśanam / tatrābhyarcya śrīnivāsaṃ viṣṇuloke mahīyate

Translation

Ang banal na tawiran na tinatawag na Plakṣāvataraṇa ay pumupuksa sa lahat ng kasalanan. Ang sumasamba kay Śrīnivāsa roon ay pararangalan sa daigdig ni Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• तीर्थम्: sacred ford/pilgrimage place
• तीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• प्लक्ष-अवतरणम्: the descent/landing at Plakṣa
• प्लक्ष-अवतरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + अवतरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (plakṣasya avataraṇam)

• सर्व-पाप-विनाशनम्: destroyer of all sins
• सर्व-पाप-विनाशनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (sarvapāpānāṃ vināśanam)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), परस्मैपदी; ‘having worshipped’

• श्री-निवासम्: Śrīnivāsa (abode of Lakṣmī; Viṣṇu)
• श्री-निवासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + निवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śriyāḥ nivāsaḥ)

• विष्णु-लोके: in Viṣṇu’s world
• विष्णु-लोके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (viṣṇoḥ lokaḥ)

• महीयते: is honored/glorified
• महीयते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (is honored/is glorified)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (tirtha-mahatmya narration)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Plakshavatarana
• Shrinivasa
• Vishnu
• Vishnuloka
• Tirtha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it presents the Supreme as approachable through sacred space and devotion—worship of Śrīnivāsa at a tīrtha leads the devotee toward the Lord’s realm, implying a soteriological link between right worship and ultimate transcendence.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes bhakti and ritual worship (abhyarcana) at a tīrtha rather than a technical āsana-prāṇāyāma regimen; it aligns with Kurma Purana’s broader discipline where purity, pilgrimage, and focused devotion support inner yoga.

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

Though Vishnu-centric in wording (Śrīnivāsa, Viṣṇuloka), it fits the Kurma Purana’s integrative frame: tīrtha-mahātmyas function as shared dharmic means where sectarian boundaries soften and devotion becomes a common path to liberation.