Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 1
Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rudra’s Samanvaya Teaching
Maṅkaṇaka Episode
इती श्रीकूर्मपुराणे षट्साहस्त्र्यां संहितायामुपरिविभागे त्रयस्त्रिशो ऽध्यायः ऋषय ऊचुः तीर्थानि यानि लोके ऽस्मिन् विश्रुतानि माहन्ति च / तानि त्वं कथयास्माकं रोमहर्षण सांप्रतम्
itī śrīkūrmapurāṇe ṣaṭsāhastryāṃ saṃhitāyāmuparivibhāge trayastriśo 'dhyāyaḥ ṛṣaya ūcuḥ tīrthāni yāni loke 'smin viśrutāni māhanti ca / tāni tvaṃ kathayāsmākaṃ romaharṣaṇa sāṃpratam
Như vậy, trong Śrī Kūrma Purāṇa, bản Saṃhitā sáu nghìn kệ, thuộc phần hậu, mở đầu chương thứ ba mươi ba. Các hiền triết thưa: “Ôi Romaharṣaṇa, xin nay hãy kể cho chúng tôi về những thánh địa hành hương (tīrtha) trong thế gian này, vốn nổi danh và được tôn kính sâu xa.”
The sages (ṛṣis), addressing Romaharṣaṇa (Sūta)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
This verse does not directly define Ātman; it sets the narrative frame for teaching dharma through tīrtha-māhātmya—where inner purity and right understanding are traditionally linked with sacred places and their disciplines.
No specific yoga practice is stated in this verse; it introduces a section on tīrthas, which in Purāṇic tradition supports sādhana through vows, bathing, japa, and worship performed at sanctified locations.
It does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; however, the Kurma Purāṇa’s broader Upari-bhāga context commonly presents pilgrimage and worship as a shared dharmic field supporting Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.