Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

Svāyambhuva Lineage to Dakṣa; Pṛthu’s Devotion; Pāśupata Saṃnyāsa; Dakṣa–Satī Episode

Devanagari script

स कृत्वा तीर्थसंसेवां स्वाध्याये तपसि स्थितः / जगाम हिमवत्पृष्ठं कदाचित् सिद्धसेवितम्

Transliteration

sa kṛtvā tīrthasaṃsevāṃ svādhyāye tapasi sthitaḥ / jagāma himavatpṛṣṭhaṃ kadācit siddhasevitam

Translation

他如法亲近并奉事诸圣地渡口（tīrtha），又安住于自诵研习（svādhyāya）与苦行之中；有一次，他前往喜马瓦特的高峻山脊——那是诸成就者（siddha）常来侍奉与栖止之境。

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having done’

• tīrtha-saṃsevām: service/visiting of sacred fords
• tīrtha-saṃsevām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsevā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (tīrthasya saṃsevā = service/attendance of holy places)

• svādhyāye: in self-study/recitation
• svādhyāye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svādhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tapasi: in austerity
• tapasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• sthitaḥ: abiding, engaged
• sthitaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthita (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √sthā)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• jagāma: went
• jagāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• himavat-pṛṣṭham: the slope/back of Himavat (Himalaya)
• himavat-pṛṣṭham: Karma (कर्म/Goal as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: himavat (प्रातिपदिक) + pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (himavataḥ pṛṣṭham = the back/slope of Himavat)

• kadācit: at some time, once
• kadācit: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācit (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• siddha-sevitam: frequented/served by siddhas
• siddha-sevitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of himavat-pṛṣṭham
• Type: Adjective
• Root: siddha (प्रातिपदिक) + sevita (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √sev)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (siddhaiḥ sevitam = frequented by siddhas)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic sūta-style narration within the Kurma Purana’s Purva-bhaga)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Tirtha
• Himavat (Himalaya)
• Siddhas

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it presents the classical purāṇic means for inner realization—tīrtha-sevā, svādhyāya, and tapas—disciplines that purify the mind and prepare one to recognize the Self beyond mere travel or ritual.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Svādhyāya (scriptural recitation/study) and tapas (austerity) are emphasized as steady practices; paired with tīrtha-sevā, they function as a yogic regimen of purification and concentration aligned with later Kurma Purana teachings on disciplined sādhanā.

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

The verse does not name Shiva or Vishnu explicitly; it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative ethos by foregrounding universal sādhanā (tapas and svādhyāya) revered across Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions, culminating in siddha-associated sacred geography.