Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 4

Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rudra’s Samanvaya Teaching

Maṅkaṇaka Episode

Devanagari script

पञ्चयोजनविस्तीर्णं ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः / प्रयागं प्रथितं तीर्थं तस्य माहात्म्यमीरितम्

Transliteration

pañcayojanavistīrṇaṃ brahmaṇaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ / prayāgaṃ prathitaṃ tīrthaṃ tasya māhātmyamīritam

Translation

پرمیَشٹھِن برہما کا مشہور تیرتھ پریاگ پانچ یوجن تک پھیلا ہوا ہے؛ اب اس کی عظمت (ماہاتمیہ) بیان کی جا رہی ہے۔

Word by Word

• पञ्चयोजनविस्तीर्णम्: spanning five yojanas
• पञ्चयोजनविस्तीर्णम्: Visheshana (विशेषण; qualifying प्रयागम्/तीर्थम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + योजन + विस्तीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पञ्चयोजनैः विस्तीर्णम् = extended over five yojanas)

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• परमेष्ठिनः: of the Supreme Lord (Parameṣṭhin)
• परमेष्ठिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेष्ठिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ब्रह्मणः के विशेषणरूपेण (epithet)

• प्रयागम्: Prayāga
• प्रयागम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; apposition with तीर्थम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रथितम्: renowned
• प्रथितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (तीर्थम्/प्रयागम्)

• तीर्थम्: holy ford/place
• तीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयागस्य अप्पोजिशन (appositive)

• तस्य: of it/its
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• माहात्म्यम्: greatness, glory
• माहात्म्यम्: Karta (कर्ता; subject of ‘ईरितम्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ईरितम्: has been proclaimed
• ईरितम्: Kriya (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईर् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘(माहात्म्यम्) ईरितम्’ = has been proclaimed

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) speaking to the sages (Naimiṣāraṇya frame), introducing the Prayāga-māhātmya section

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Parameṣṭhin
• Prayāga

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames a tīrtha-māhātmya where sacred geography becomes a support for inner purification—implying that realization of the Self is aided by sanctified contexts and disciplined intent.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is taught in this verse; it functions as an introduction to Prayāga’s sanctity, which in Purāṇic praxis supports vows, japa, bathing, and contemplative discipline aligned with broader Kurma Purana Yoga-shāstra themes.

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

It does not explicitly mention Śiva–Viṣṇu unity; however, by grounding tīrtha authority in Brahmā and Purāṇic revelation, it participates in the Kurma Purana’s wider synthesis where pilgrimage and dharma support non-sectarian spiritual ascent.