Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Prayāga–Gaṅgā Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rules of Pilgrimage

Yātrā-vidhi

Devanagari script

दश तीर्थ सहस्त्राणि षष्टिकोट्यस्तथापरे / तेषां सान्निध्यमत्रैव तीर्थानां कुरुनन्दन

Transliteration

daśa tīrtha sahastrāṇi ṣaṣṭikoṭyastathāpare / teṣāṃ sānnidhyamatraiva tīrthānāṃ kurunandana

Translation

Có mười nghìn thánh địa (tīrtha), lại còn sáu mươi crores thánh địa khác; nhưng sự hiện diện gần gũi của tất cả các nơi hành hương ấy đều hội tụ ngay tại đây, hỡi niềm vui của dòng Kuru.

Word by Word

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, अव्ययवत् (indeclinable numeral in many uses); अत्र ‘सहस्राणि’ इति विशेषणम्

• tīrtha-sahasrāṇi: thousands of tīrthas
• tīrtha-sahasrāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तीर्थाणां सहस्राणि)

• ṣaṣṭi-koṭyaḥ: sixty crores
• ṣaṣṭi-koṭyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + koṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (षष्टेः कोटयः)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): likewise/so

• apare: others (there are)
• apare: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘अन्ये’ इत्यर्थे

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• sānnidhyam: presence/proximity
• sānnidhyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sānnidhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• tīrthānām: of the tīrthas
• tīrthānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• kuru-nandana: O delight of the Kurus
• kuru-nandana: Sambodhana (सम्बोधनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuru (प्रातिपदिक) + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कुरूणां नन्दनः)

Speaker

Narrator/teacher addressing a Kuru prince (Kurunandana) within a tīrtha-māhātmya discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Tirtha
• Kurunandana (Kuru prince)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by declaring that countless tīrthas are ‘present here,’ it points to the Purāṇic idea that sanctity is concentrated where dharma, devotion, and right knowledge converge—ultimately implying that sacredness culminates in inner realization rather than mere travel.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse itself emphasizes tīrtha-sānnidhya (the power of sacred presence). In Kurma Purana’s spiritual framework, such presence supports purification (śuddhi) and steadiness of mind, which are prerequisites for japa, dhyāna, and disciplined observances aligned with Śaiva-Vaiṣṇava devotion.

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

By focusing on the unified ‘power of tīrthas’ rather than sectarian distinction, the verse fits the Kurma Purana’s integrative tone: sacred places are understood as shared fields of grace where Śiva- and Viṣṇu-oriented worship both lead toward the same highest purification and liberation.