Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 5

Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rudra’s Samanvaya Teaching

Maṅkaṇaka Episode

Devanagari script

अन्यच्च तीर्थप्रवरं कुरूणां देववन्दितम् / ऋषीणामाश्रमैर्जुष्टं सर्वपापविशोधनम्

Transliteration

anyacca tīrthapravaraṃ kurūṇāṃ devavanditam / ṛṣīṇāmāśramairjuṣṭaṃ sarvapāpaviśodhanam

Translation

اور بھی—کُروؤں کا ایک برتر تیرتھ ہے جسے دیوتا بھی سجدۂ تعظیم کرتے ہیں؛ جو رشیوں کے آشرموں سے آباد ہے اور ہر گناہ کو دھو دینے والا ہے۔

Word by Word

• अन्यत्: another (also)
• अन्यत्: Karta (कर्ता; topic-introducer)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘another (thing/place)’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तीर्थप्रवरम्: the foremost holy place
• तीर्थप्रवरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; implied ‘(वक्ष्यामि)’ etc.)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ + प्रवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (तीर्थेषु प्रवरम् = best among tīrthas)

• कुरूणाम्: of the Kurus
• कुरूणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• देववन्दितम्: worshipped by the gods
• देववन्दितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव + वन्दित (प्रातिपदिक; वन्द्+क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (देवैः वन्दितम् = worshipped by gods)

• ऋषीणाम्: of sages
• ऋषीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• आश्रमैः: with hermitages
• आश्रमैः: Karana (करण; means/association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• जुष्टम्: frequented/adorned
• जुष्टम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जुष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘frequented/adorned’

• सर्वपापविशोधनम्: purifying all sins
• सर्वपापविशोधनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + पाप + विशोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां पापानां विशोधनम् = purifier of all sins)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting the tirtha-mahātmya to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya (traditional Purāṇic frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kurus (Kuru-deśa)
• Devas
• Rishis (Sages)
• Ashramas
• Tirtha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It does so indirectly: by exalting a tīrtha as “purifying all sins,” the verse points to inner purification (citta-śuddhi) as the prerequisite for realizing the Self, a theme consistent with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis of devotion, dharma, and yogic clarity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights tīrtha-sevā and sādhusaṅga as practical supports for yoga: residing near ṛṣi-āśramas, performing disciplined pilgrimage, and cultivating purity. In Kurma Purana’s broader teaching, such purification becomes the ground for mantra, japa, and meditative absorption taught in Shaiva-Vaishnava integrated frameworks.

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

While neither name appears, the verse reflects the Purāṇic non-sectarian model: sacred places revered by “the gods” and inhabited by sages are presented as universally sanctifying, aligning with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis where tīrthas and tapas are shared means to the one Supreme.