Shloka 15

Vārāṇasī (Avimukta) Māhātmya and the Catalogue of Guhya-Tīrthas

Devanagari script

केदारतीर्थमुग्राख्यं कालञ्जरमनुत्तमम् / सारस्वतं प्रभासं च भद्रकर्णं ह्रदं शुभम्

Transliteration

kedāratīrthamugrākhyaṃ kālañjaramanuttamam / sārasvataṃ prabhāsaṃ ca bhadrakarṇaṃ hradaṃ śubham

Translation

کیدار تیرتھ جو ‘اُگْر’ کے نام سے مشہور ہے، بے مثال کالنجر، سارَسوت، پربھاس اور ‘بھدرکرن’ نام کی مبارک جھیل—یہ سب مقدّس تیرتھ ہیں۔

Word by Word

• केदारतीर्थम्: Kedāra-tīrtha (the Kedāra pilgrimage place)
• केदारतीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केदार-तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; केदार + तीर्थ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

• उग्राख्यम्: called ‘Ugra’
• उग्राख्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र-आख्य (प्रातिपदिक; उग्र + आख्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter; विशेषण (qualifier)

• कालञ्जरम्: Kālañjara (tīrtha/place)
• कालञ्जरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालञ्जर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed, excellent
• अनुत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter; विशेषण

• सारस्वतम्: Sārasvata (tīrtha)
• सारस्वतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारस्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

• प्रभासम्: Prabhāsa (tīrtha)
• प्रभासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular masculine

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• भद्रकर्णम्: Bhadrakarṇa (tīrtha)
• भद्रकर्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र-कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; भद्र + कर्ण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

• ह्रदम्: lake, pool
• ह्रदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ह्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular masculine

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular masculine; विशेषण

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting the tirtha-listing within the Kurma Purana’s discourse to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kedāra Tīrtha
• Ugra (name-epithet of the tīrtha)
• Kālañjara
• Sārasvata Tīrtha
• Prabhāsa Tīrtha
• Bhadrakarṇa Hrada

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by mapping sacred geography (tīrthas) as supports for purification, the verse implies that inner realization of the Self is approached through śuddhi (purity) gained by dharma-based acts like pilgrimage.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse itself lists tīrthas rather than techniques; in the Kurma Purana’s broader framework, tīrtha-sevā functions as an auxiliary discipline—supporting tapas, japa, and devotion—aligned with Pāśupata-leaning purification prior to deeper yoga.

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

By honoring pan-Indic tīrthas revered across Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions (e.g., Kedāra, Prabhāsa), the verse reflects the Purana’s integrative stance: sacred places are shared avenues to one supreme reality approached through multiple names and forms.