Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 18

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

Akṣaya-Karma Doctrine

Devanagari script

स्वामितीर्थं महातीर्थं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् / तत्र सन्निहितो नित्यं स्कन्दो ऽमरनमस्कृतः

Transliteration

svāmitīrthaṃ mahātīrthaṃ triṣu lokeṣu viśrutam / tatra sannihito nityaṃ skando 'maranamaskṛtaḥ

Translation

Svāmī-tīrtha là đại thánh địa, lừng danh khắp ba cõi. Tại đó, Skanda—đấng luôn được chư thiên bất tử đảnh lễ—thường hằng an trụ trong sự hiện diện hiển lộ.

Word by Word

• svāmi-tīrtham: the Svāmi sacred ford
• svāmi-tīrtham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svāmin (प्रातिपदिक) + tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (svāminaḥ tīrtham)

• mahā-tīrtham: the great sacred ford
• mahā-tīrtham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः (mahattīrtham)

• triṣu: in the three
• triṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); संख्याविशेषण

• lokeṣu: worlds
• lokeṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• viśrutam: renowned
• viśrutam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-śru (धातु) + ta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कर्मणि भूतकृदन्त); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषणम् (tīrtham)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• sannihitaḥ: present, stationed
• sannihitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ni-dhā (धातु) + ta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषणम् (skandaḥ)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया एकवचन)

• skandaḥ: Skanda
• skandaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: skanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• amara-namaskṛtaḥ: saluted by the gods
• amara-namaskṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amara (प्रातिपदिक) + namas-kṛta (कृत्; कृ धातु)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (amaraiḥ namaskṛtaḥ = ‘saluted by immortals’)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/Indradyumna on tirtha-mahatmya (pilgrimage glory)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Svami-tirtha
• Skanda (Kartikeya)
• Amaras (Devas)
• Tri-loka (three worlds)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by presenting a tīrtha as “renowned in the three worlds” and a deity as “ever-present,” the verse points to sacred presence (sannidhāna) as a support for inner recollection of the Self—where the pilgrim’s mind becomes steady and oriented to the transcendent.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes tīrtha-sevā and darśana of a deity with nitya-sannidhāna (perpetual presence). In Kurma Purana’s devotional-yogic frame, pilgrimage, reverent salutations, and concentrated remembrance at such a site function as aids to dhyāna and mental purification.

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

A Vaishnava speaker (Kurma/Vishnu) glorifies a site where Skanda—closely linked to the Shaiva family—abides perpetually. This reflects the Purana’s synthetic stance: Vishnu-authority endorses Shaiva devatā-sannidhāna, supporting a non-sectarian, integrative dharma.