Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

यत्र साक्षान्महादेवो देहान्ते स्वयमीश्वरः / व्याचष्टे तारकं ब्रह्म तत्रैव ह्यविमुक्तकम्

Transliteration

yatra sākṣānmahādevo dehānte svayamīśvaraḥ / vyācaṣṭe tārakaṃ brahma tatraiva hyavimuktakam

Translation

جہاں جسم کے آخری لمحے میں خود اِیشور مہادیو ساکشات ہو کر ‘تارک برہمن’ کی تعلیم دیتے ہیں—وہی مقام ‘اویمُکتک’ کہلاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: अधिकरण (locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (relative adverb of place: where)

• साक्षात्: directly, in person
• साक्षात्: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: directly, manifestly)

• महादेवः: Mahadeva (Shiva)
• महादेवः: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine, nominative, singular); कर्मधारयः (महान् देवः)

• देहान्ते: at the end of the body (at death)
• देहान्ते: अधिकरण (locus/time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (masculine, locative, singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (end of the body)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (reflexive/emphatic: himself)

• ईश्वरः: the Lord
• ईश्वरः: समानााधिकरण (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine, nominative, singular) — महादेवस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• व्याचष्टे: explains/teaches
• व्याचष्टे: क्रिया (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + आ + चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (present, 3rd person singular, middle)

• तारकम्: saving, delivering
• तारकम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, accusative, singular) — ब्रह्म-विशेषण

• ब्रह्म: Brahman / sacred formula
• ब्रह्म: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, accusative, singular)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (there)

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphasis)

• हि: indeed
• हि: हेतुसूचक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (indeed/for)

• अविमुक्तकम्: Avimuktaka (the sacred place)
• अविमुक्तकम्: कर्ता/कर्म (context: ‘is Avimuktaka’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविमुक्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थाननाम), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative, singular)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic discourse describing the sanctity of Avimuktaka/Kāśī and Śiva’s saving instruction at death)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mahadeva
• Shiva
• Ishvara
• Taraka Brahman
• Avimuktaka
• Kashi

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents liberation as arising from direct imparting of Brahman-knowledge (tāraka brahma) by Īśvara at death—implying that the saving truth is realization/knowledge of Brahman rather than mere ritual action.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes the culminating moment of practice: remembrance and reception of liberating Brahman-knowledge at death. In the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva/Pāśupata context, this aligns with steady devotion, mantra-orientation, and contemplative fixation on Īśvara so the final transition becomes a gateway to mokṣa.

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

By calling Mahādeva ‘Īśvara’ who grants Brahman-knowledge, the text frames liberation as bestowed by the one Supreme Lord—supporting the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where Śiva’s grace and Brahman-realization stand within an overarching unity of the divine.