Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

कुरुक्षेत्रं रुद्रकोटिर्नर्मदाम्रातकेश्वरम् / शालिग्रामं च कुब्जाम्रं कोकामुखमनुत्तमम् / प्रभासं विजयेशानं गोकर्णं भद्रकर्णकम्

Transliteration

kurukṣetraṃ rudrakoṭirnarmadāmrātakeśvaram / śāligrāmaṃ ca kubjāmraṃ kokāmukhamanuttamam / prabhāsaṃ vijayeśānaṃ gokarṇaṃ bhadrakarṇakam

Translation

俱卢之地（Kurukṣetra）、鲁陀罗科底、那尔玛达河畔的阿摩罗多迦伊湿伐罗、娑利伽罗摩、库卜迦阿摩罗、无上之科迦穆迦、普罗婆娑、毗阇耶伊湿那、瞿迦耳那，以及跋陀罗迦耳那迦——皆被宣说为卓越的圣地渡口（tīrtha）。

Word by Word

• kuru-kṣetram: Kurukṣetra
• kuru-kṣetram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuru-kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थान-नाम), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• rudra-koṭiḥ: Rudrakoṭi
• rudra-koṭiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra-koṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (स्थान-नाम), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• narmadā-amrātaka-īśvaram: Narmadā-Amrātakeśvara
• narmadā-amrātaka-īśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: narmadā + amrātaka + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थान-नाम), द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष

• śāli-grāmam: Śāligrāma
• śāli-grāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāli-grāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थान-नाम), द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• kubja-amram: Kubjāmra
• kubja-amram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kubja-amra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थान-नाम), द्वितीया, एकवचन

• kokā-mukham: Kokāmukha
• kokā-mukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kokā-mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थान-नाम), द्वितीया, एकवचन

• anuttamam: unsurpassed
• anuttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• prabhāsam: Prabhāsa
• prabhāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थान-नाम), द्वितीया, एकवचन

• vijaya-īśānam: Vijayeśāna
• vijaya-īśānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vijaya + īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थान-नाम), द्वितीया, एकवचन

• go-karṇam: Gokarṇa
• go-karṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go-karṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थान-नाम), द्वितीया, एकवचन

• bhadra-karṇakam: Bhadrakarṇaka
• bhadra-karṇakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadra-karṇaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थान-नाम), द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s tirtha-mahātmya to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kurukṣetra
• Rudrakoṭi
• Narmadā
• Amrātakeśvara
• Śāligrāma
• Prabhāsa
• Gokarṇa

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily a tīrtha-list and does not directly define Ātman; its implied teaching is that sanctified places associated with Śiva and Viṣṇu aid purification (śuddhi), which is treated elsewhere in the Kurma Purana as supportive for realizing the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yoga technique is stated here; the verse emphasizes tīrtha-sevana (pilgrimage/holy-site observance) as a preparatory dharmic practice that complements later Kurma Purana teachings on devotion, austerity, and Pāśupata-oriented discipline.

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

By placing Śaiva shrines (e.g., Amrātakeśvara, Gokarṇa) alongside Vaiṣṇava sanctity (Śāligrāma) in one authoritative list, the verse reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative vision where both traditions function within a shared dharmic-sacred geography.