Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

Vārāṇasī (Avimukta) Māhātmya and the Catalogue of Guhya-Tīrthas

Devanagari script

एवमादीनि तीर्थानि प्राधान्यात् कथितानि तु / न शक्यं विस्तराद् वक्तुं तीर्थसंख्या द्विजात्तमाः

Transliteration

evamādīni tīrthāni prādhānyāt kathitāni tu / na śakyaṃ vistarād vaktuṃ tīrthasaṃkhyā dvijāttamāḥ

Translation

如是，这些以及其他提尔塔，只依其主要殊胜而略作宣说。然而，噢最胜的二生者啊，诸朝圣之地的总数，实难尽述其详。

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus’)

• आदीनि: and others beginning with these
• आदीनि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; here: प्रथमा बहुवचन (agreeing with तीर्थानि)

• तीर्थानि: tīrthas, sacred places
• तीर्थानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; nominative plural neuter

• प्राधान्यात्: because of (their) prominence
• प्राधान्यात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राधान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन; ablative singular neuter; हेतौ (cause)

• कथितानि: have been described
• कथितानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) → कथित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘having been told/mentioned’

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-निपात (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-निपात (negation)

• शक्यम्: possible
• शक्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक् (धातु) + यत् (प्रत्यय) → शक्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (potential/gerundive, यत्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘possible/able to be’

• विस्तरात्: in detail, at length
• विस्तरात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; ablative singular masculine; ‘in detail/at length’ (ablative of manner/extent)

• वक्तुम्: to tell
• वक्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + तुमुन् (प्रत्यय) → वक्तुम्
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive); ‘to say/speak’

• तीर्थसंख्या: the number of tīrthas
• तीर्थसंख्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ-संख्या (प्रातिपदिक; तीर्थ + संख्या)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular feminine

• द्विजात्तमाः: O best of the twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजात्तमाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज-अत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; द्विज + अत्तम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; nominative plural masculine; संबोधनार्थे (vocative sense) ‘O best of twice-born’

Speaker

Narrator/teacher addressing the sages (dvijottamas) within the Kurma Purana’s tirtha-kathana context (traditionally Lord Kurma’s discourse transmission).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Tirtha
• Dvija (twice-born sages)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is not a direct ātman-teaching; it emphasizes dharmic method—scriptural instruction is selective and practical, describing what is most “primary,” while the totality (like the limitless Self) cannot be exhaustively enumerated.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yoga technique is taught in this line; it supports the broader Kurma Purana approach where external disciplines (tīrtha-yātrā, purity, vows) serve as auxiliaries to inner yoga and devotion taught elsewhere (including the Ishvara Gita sections).

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

It does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; indirectly, it aligns with the Purana’s synthesis by treating tīrthas as universally sacred spaces supporting both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava modes of worship and liberation-oriented dharma.