Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

Durjaya, Urvaśī, and the Expiation at Vārāṇasī

Genealogy and Sin-Removal through Viśveśvara

Devanagari script

गच्छ वाराणसीं दिव्यामीश्वराध्युषितां पुरीम् / आस्ते मोचयितुं लोकं तत्र देवो महेश्वरः

Transliteration

gaccha vārāṇasīṃ divyāmīśvarādhyuṣitāṃ purīm / āste mocayituṃ lokaṃ tatra devo maheśvaraḥ

Translation

你当往神圣的婆罗那西去，那是主宰伊湿伐罗所居之城；彼处大自在天摩诃湿伐罗（诃罗）安住，为解脱世间而住。

Word by Word

• gaccha: go
• gaccha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular

• vārāṇasīm: to Vārāṇasī
• vārāṇasīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vārāṇasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; proper noun

• divyām: divine
• divyām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with vārāṇasīm/purīm

• īśvarādhyuṣitām: inhabited by Īśvara
• īśvarādhyuṣitām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īśvara + adhyuṣita (प्रातिपदिक; √vas with adhi-, past passive participle)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘inhabited by the Lord’

• purīm: city
• purīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āste: dwells/sits
• āste: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ās (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Ātmanepada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• mocayitum: to liberate
• mocayitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √muc (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), causative sense ‘to cause to be released’ (मोचयितुम्)

• lokam: the world/people
• lokam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय) ‘there’

• devaḥ: the god
• devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• maheśvaraḥ: Maheśvara (Śiva)
• maheśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारय ‘the great Lord’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the inquirer within the Purva-bhaga narrative frame

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Varanasi (Kashi)
• Ishvara
• Maheshvara (Shiva)

More Details (1 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying Maheśvara as the liberator present in Kāśī, the verse points to liberation as grace and realization centered on Īśvara—implying the Supreme is not distant but accessible, dwelling where seekers turn inward toward the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes tīrtha-upāsanā (devotional pilgrimage and disciplined residence/approach to a sacred kṣetra) as a supportive sādhana for mokṣa—aligning with Purāṇic yoga where devotion to Īśvara, purity of conduct, and remembrance lead toward release.

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

Spoken in a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa frame yet exalting Maheśvara as the liberator in Kāśī, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: Vishnu (Kurma) affirms Shiva’s salvific role, underscoring unity of Īśvara beyond sectarian division.