Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34

Avimukta-Māhātmya — Vyāsa in Vārāṇasī and Śiva’s Secret Teaching of Liberation

Devanagari script

नाविमुक्ते मृतः कश्चिन्नरकं याति किल्बिषी / ईश्वरानुगृहीता हि सर्वे यान्ति परां गतिम्

Transliteration

nāvimukte mṛtaḥ kaścinnarakaṃ yāti kilbiṣī / īśvarānugṛhītā hi sarve yānti parāṃ gatim

Translation

اویمُکت میں مرنے والا کوئی گنہگار بھی دوزخ کو نہیں جاتا؛ کیونکہ اِیشور کے انُگرہ سے سبھی پرم گتی کو پہنچتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-निपात (negation particle)

• अविमुक्ते: in Avimukta
• अविमुक्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविमुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/स्थानवाचक, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मृतः: dead; having died
• मृतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु) → मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि-प्रयोगे विधेय (one who has died)

• कश्चित्: anyone; someone
• कश्चित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• नरकम्: hell
• नरकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• याति: goes
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• किल्बिषी: sinful
• किल्बिषी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किल्बिषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies 'kaścit')

• ईश्वरानुगृहीताः: favoured by the Lord
• ईश्वरानुगृहीताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईश्वर + अनु + ग्रह् (धातु) → अनुगृहीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समास (ईश्वरस्य अनुग्रहः प्राप्तः)

• हि: indeed; for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• यान्ति: go
• यान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पराम्: supreme; highest
• पराम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies 'gatim')

• गतिम्: state; destination
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Traditional narration within the Kurma Purana’s Kshetra-Mahatmya section (praise of Avimukta/Kashi), attributed to the Purāṇic narrator addressing the inquirer (Indradyumna and/or sages depending on recension).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Avimukta
• Ishvara

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames the “supreme state” (parā gati) as attainable through Īśvara’s grace, implying liberation is not merely a mechanical fruit of karma but a higher realization/goal bestowed when the soul is aligned with the Lord in a sanctified kṣetra.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes īśvara-anugraha (divine favor) rather than a specific technique; in Kurma Purana’s broader teaching, such grace is supported by dharma, tīrtha-sevā, japa, and devotion—complementary to Shaiva-Pāśupata and Vaiṣṇava sādhanā aimed at mokṣa.

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

By using the universal term Īśvara within the Avimukta (Kāśī) context—traditionally Śiva’s kṣetra—it allows a non-sectarian reading consistent with Kurma Purana’s synthesis, where the Supreme Lord is honored across Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava idioms.