Shloka 4

Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Mahālaya, Kedāra, Rivers and Fords, and Devadāru Forest

Akṣaya-Karma Doctrine

Devanagari script

स्नात्वा तत्र पदं शार्वं दृष्ट्वा भक्तिपुरः सरम् / नमस्कृत्वाथ शिरसा रुद्रसामीप्यमाप्नुयात्

Transliteration

snātvā tatra padaṃ śārvaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhaktipuraḥ saram / namaskṛtvātha śirasā rudrasāmīpyamāpnuyāt

Translation

وہاں غسل کرکے، شارو (شیو) کے مقدس نقشِ قدم اور بھکتی پور کے سامنے والے تالاب کو دیکھ کر، سر جھکا کر سجدۂ تعظیم کرے؛ یوں رودر کی قربت نصیب ہوتی ہے۔

Word by Word

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• पदम्: place/abode
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शार्वम्: of Śarva (Śiva)
• शार्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शार्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of पदम्)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• भक्ति-पुरःसरम्: preceded by devotion; with devotion foremost
• भक्ति-पुरःसरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरःसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (with devotion in front/preceding)

• नमस्कृत्वा: having bowed
• नमस्कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक) + √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive); ‘नमस्’ उपपद-समास/उपपद-प्रयोग (having made obeisance)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• शिरसा: with (one’s) head
• शिरसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• रुद्र-सामीप्यम्: nearness to Rudra
• रुद्र-सामीप्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सामीप्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास

• आप्नुयात्: may attain
• आप्नुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the tīrtha-phala within the Kurma Purana’s Purva-bhaga narrative frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Śarva (Śiva)
• Rudra
• Bhaktipura
• Saras (sacred lake)
• Pāda (sacred footprint)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents liberation in relational terms—“nearness to Rudra” (sāmīpya)—implying the Supreme is approachable through devotion and sanctified practice; the Purāṇic teaching frames realization not only as abstract knowledge but as communion with Īśvara.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes tīrtha-sādhana: ritual bathing (snāna), sacred sight (darśana) of Śiva’s sign (pāda/pada), and embodied humility (śirasā-namaskāra). In Kurma Purana’s Shaiva ethos, these support bhakti and inner purification aligned with Pāśupata-oriented discipline.

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

Though Śiva/Rudra is the immediate object of worship, the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis treats devotion to Rudra as a legitimate path upheld within a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa framework, reinforcing practical unity of sectarian approaches through shared dharma and sādhanā.