Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 42

Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rudra’s Samanvaya Teaching

Maṅkaṇaka Episode

Devanagari script

तत्र स्त्रात्वा भवेच्छुद्धो ब्रह्माणं परमेष्ठिनम् / पूजयित्वा द्विजवरान् ब्रह्माणं संप्रपष्यति

Transliteration

tatra strātvā bhavecchuddho brahmāṇaṃ parameṣṭhinam / pūjayitvā dvijavarān brahmāṇaṃ saṃprapaṣyati

Translation

وہاں غسل کرکے انسان پاکیزہ ہو جاتا ہے؛ پھر پرمیشٹھھی برہما کی پوجا کرکے اور برتر برہمنوں کی تعظیم کر کے برہما کا ساکشات دیدار کرتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb: ‘there’)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); ‘having bathed’

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg)

• शुद्धः: pure
• शुद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• परमेष्ठिनम्: the Supreme Lord (Parameṣṭhin)
• परमेष्ठिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परमेष्ठिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (epithet of Brahmā)

• पूजयित्वा: having worshipped
• पूजयित्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); ‘having worshipped’

• द्विजवरान्: the best of the twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजवरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (‘श्रेष्ठाः द्विजाः’)

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• संप्रपश्यति: beholds/has a vision of
• संप्रपश्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; उपसर्गाः: सम्+प्र

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing in a tīrtha-māhātmya / dharma context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Parameṣṭhin
• Dvija (Brāhmaṇas)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames inner fitness for higher vision through purification and reverence: by tīrtha-bathing and honoring sacred knowledge-bearers, one becomes qualified for darśana of a cosmic principle (Brahmā), implying that spiritual perception depends on purity and right conduct.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes preparatory disciplines (śauca/purification and pūjā) rather than seated techniques: tīrtha-snana, worship, and honoring dvijas function as dharmic sādhanā that steadies the mind and supports higher contemplative insight.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic integrative spirit: a Vaiṣṇava speaker (Kūrma) upholds reverence for Brahmā and the Vedic order, consistent with the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis where devotion and dharma are shared foundations across sectarian forms.