Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

Durjaya, Urvaśī, and the Expiation at Vārāṇasī

Genealogy and Sin-Removal through Viśveśvara

Devanagari script

स्नात्वा संतर्प्य विधिवद् गङ्गायान्देवताः पितॄन् / दृष्ट्वा विश्वेश्वरं लिङ्गङ्किल्बिषान्मोक्ष्यसे ऽखिलात्

Transliteration

snātvā saṃtarpya vidhivad gaṅgāyāndevatāḥ pitṝn / dṛṣṭvā viśveśvaraṃ liṅgaṅkilbiṣānmokṣyase 'khilāt

Translation

Sau khi tắm trong sông Gaṅgā và theo đúng nghi lễ dâng cúng làm thỏa lòng chư thiên cùng tổ tiên, rồi chiêm bái Liṅga của Viśveśvara, ngươi sẽ được giải thoát hoàn toàn khỏi mọi tội lỗi.

Word by Word

• snātvā: having bathed
• snātvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √snā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having bathed’

• saṃtarpya: having satisfied
• saṃtarpya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tṛp (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), with sam-; ‘having satisfied (offered oblations)’

• vidhivat: properly
• vidhivat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi + vat (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (रीतिवाचक-अव्यय) ‘according to rule’

• gaṅgāyām: in the Gaṅgā
• gaṅgāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• devatāḥ: the deities
• devatāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• pitṝn: the ancestors
• pitṝn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having seen’

• viśveśvaram: Viśveśvara
• viśveśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारय ‘Lord of all’

• liṅgam: the liṅga
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; in apposition to viśveśvaram

• kilbiṣāt: from sin
• kilbiṣāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kilbiṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; source/separation

• mokṣyase: you will be freed
• mokṣyase: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √muc (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), Ātmanepada, 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular

• akhilāt: from all (of it)
• akhilāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; used with ellipsis ‘from all (sins)’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing about tirtha-vidhi and Shiva-darshana as liberative merit

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Devatāḥ
• Pitṛs
• Viśveśvara
• Liṅga
• Shiva

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents liberation as purification and release from “kilbiṣa” through sacred action and darśana; the implied aim is inner purity conducive to Self-realization, while honoring Shiva (Viśveśvara) as a gateway to freedom.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Rather than a seated technique, the verse emphasizes preparatory sādhana: ritual purity (snāna), offerings (tarpana) to devas and pitṛs, and focused devotional contemplation through darśana of the Liṅga—acts that support steadiness of mind and dharmic purification.

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

With Vishnu (as Kurma) recommending Shiva’s Viśveśvara-liṅga darśana as liberative, the text reflects Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: reverence to Shiva is endorsed within a Vaishnava narrative voice.