Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

Avimukta-Māhātmya — Vyāsa in Vārāṇasī and Śiva’s Secret Teaching of Liberation

Devanagari script

देवीदं सर्वगुह्यानां स्थानं प्रियतमं मम / मद्भक्तास्तत्र गच्छन्ति मामेव प्रविशन्ति ते

Transliteration

devīdaṃ sarvaguhyānāṃ sthānaṃ priyatamaṃ mama / madbhaktāstatra gacchanti māmeva praviśanti te

Translation

女神啊，此处乃诸秘中最秘之地，是我最挚爱的居所。我的奉献者前往那里；进入此处之时，他们唯独进入我。

Word by Word

• देवि: O Goddess
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Vocative, Singular)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदं (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); विशेषण

• सर्वगुह्यानाम्: of all secrets
• सर्वगुह्यानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Genitive, Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां गुह्यानाम्)

• स्थानम्: place
• स्थानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• प्रियतमम्: most dear
• प्रियतमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रियतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); अतिशय-विशेषण (superlative sense)

• मम: of me/my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive, Singular)

• मत्-भक्ताः: my devotees
• मत्-भक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (कृदन्त; √भज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुष (मम भक्ताः)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• गच्छन्ति: go
• गच्छन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु; √गम्)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद (Present indicative, 3rd person plural, Parasmaipada)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative, Singular)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• प्रविशन्ति: enter
• प्रविशन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु; √विश्)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद (Present indicative, 3rd person plural, Parasmaipada)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking (Purāṇic narration in dialogue form)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Bhakta
• Paramātman (implied)
• Secret Abode (guhya-sthāna)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents liberation as entering the Lord Himself—suggesting the Supreme Reality as the final refuge where devotion culminates in direct participation in (or union with) the Paramātman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes bhakti as the effective sādhana: single-pointed devotion that leads the practitioner to the Lord’s guhyasthāna (inner/supreme abode), aligning with Purāṇic yoga where devotion matures into liberating absorption.

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

By framing the supreme goal as entry into the one Lord beyond secrets and divisions, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the highest refuge is a single Supreme reality revered across Shaiva-Vaishnava idioms.