Shloka 29

Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rudra’s Samanvaya Teaching

Maṅkaṇaka Episode

Devanagari script

तीर्थानां परमं तीर्थं गोकर्णं नाम विश्रुतम् / सर्वपापहरं शंभोर्निवासः परमेष्ठिनः

Transliteration

tīrthānāṃ paramaṃ tīrthaṃ gokarṇaṃ nāma viśrutam / sarvapāpaharaṃ śaṃbhornivāsaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ

Translation

تیَرتھوں میں سب سے برتر تیرتھ ‘گوکرن’ کے نام سے مشہور ہے—جو ہر پاپ کو ہرنے والا ہے، اور پرمیشور شَمبھُو (شیو) کا نِواس ہے۔

Word by Word

• tīrthānām: of pilgrimage places
• tīrthānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; genitive plural

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular (qualifying tīrtham)

• tīrtham: the sacred place
• tīrtham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular

• gokarṇam: Gokarṇa
• gokarṇam: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go + karṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular; समास: तत्पुरुष (गोः कर्णः/कर्णम्)

• nāma: named
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामनिर्देशक (indeclinable ‘named/called’)

• viśrutam: renowned
• viśrutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: कृत (क्त) past passive participle; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘well-known’

• sarvapāpaharam: remover of all sins
• sarvapāpaharam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + pāpa + hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular; समास: तत्पुरुष (सर्वाणि पापानि हरति)

• śaṃbhoḥ: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• śaṃbhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; genitive singular

• nivāsaḥ: abode
• nivāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nivāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular

• parameṣṭhinaḥ: of Parameṣṭhin (the Supreme Lord)
• parameṣṭhinaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameṣṭhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; genitive singular

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in a tirtha-mahatmya context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Gokarna
• Shambhu (Shiva)
• Parameshthin (Supreme Lord)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling Gokarṇa the abode of Parameṣṭhin (the Highest Lord), the verse frames the tīrtha as a locus for realizing the supreme divine principle that transcends sin and limitation—pointing devotion and pilgrimage toward the highest Reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse emphasizes tīrtha-sevā (pilgrimage as a purificatory discipline). In the Kurma Purana’s broader yogic-ethical frame, such purification supports inner practices—japa, dhyāna, and devotion to Śiva—by reducing pāpa and stabilizing the mind for sādhanā.

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

Though praising Śambhu’s abode, the teaching is delivered within the Kurma Purana’s Vishnu-centered narration, reflecting a synthesis where Śiva’s sacred presence is upheld without sectarian conflict—devotion to Śiva is presented as fully consonant with the Purana’s overarching theism.