Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

वाराणस्यां महादेवं येर्ऽचयन्ति स्तुवन्ति वै / सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तास्ते विज्ञेया गणेश्वराः

Transliteration

vārāṇasyāṃ mahādevaṃ yer'cayanti stuvanti vai / sarvapāpavinirmuktāste vijñeyā gaṇeśvarāḥ

Translation

凡在瓦拉纳西（迦尸）礼敬大天（摩诃提婆）并真诚赞颂者，皆脱离一切罪垢，应当被称为湿婆诸伽那（眷属）中的主宰。

Word by Word

• वाराणस्याम्: in Vārāṇasī
• वाराणस्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराणसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Locative singular

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular; समास: महा + देव (विशेषण-विशेष्य)

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Relative pronoun, nominative plural

• अर्चयन्ति: worship
• अर्चयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; Present indicative 3rd pl.

• स्तुवन्ति: praise
• स्तुवन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; Present indicative 3rd pl.

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्ताः: freed from all sins
• सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + पाप + विनिर्मुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वि-नि-√मुच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Past passive participle used adjectivally; समास: सर्वपापात् विनिर्मुक्ताः (ablative-tatpuruṣa sense)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Demonstrative pronoun, nominative plural

• विज्ञेयाः: are to be known (as)
• विज्ञेयाः: Pradhana-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-√ज्ञा (धातु) + य (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विधिलिङ्गार्थे भाव्य/कर्तव्य (gerundive): ‘to be known/should be regarded’

• गणेश्वराः: lords of the gaṇas
• गणेश्वराः: Pradhana-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समास: गणानाम् ईश्वराः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing sages (Purana dialogue frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Varanasi (Kashi)
• Mahadeva (Shiva)
• Ganas (Shiva’s attendants)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By declaring sin-destruction through devoted worship and praise of Mahādeva in Kāśī, the verse emphasizes purification (śuddhi) as a prerequisite for realizing the Self—suggesting that devotion and sacred place-based discipline remove obstacles that veil ātma-jñāna.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights bhakti-aṅgas aligned with yoga-sādhana—arcana (ritual worship), stuti (hymnic praise), and tīrtha-sevā (discipline in a sacred kṣetra). In the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva framework, these cultivate inner purity and steadiness supportive of higher contemplative practice.

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

With Lord Kūrma (a Viṣṇu form) extolling Mahādeva’s worship and its liberating merit, the Purana models a non-sectarian synthesis: devotion to Śiva is affirmed within a Vaiṣṇava narrative voice, reflecting unity of divine purpose across Śiva and Viṣṇu traditions.