Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

ज्ञानतीर्थं परं गुह्यं वाराहं तीर्थमुत्तमम् / यमतीर्थं महापुण्यं तीर्थं संवर्तकं शुभम्

Transliteration

jñānatīrthaṃ paraṃ guhyaṃ vārāhaṃ tīrthamuttamam / yamatīrthaṃ mahāpuṇyaṃ tīrthaṃ saṃvartakaṃ śubham

Translation

智圣渡（Jñāna-tīrtha）至上而幽秘深藏；野猪化身圣渡（Vārāha-tīrtha）为诸圣渡中最胜。阎摩圣渡（Yama-tīrtha）功德广大；三伐尔塔迦圣渡（Saṁvartaka-tīrtha）吉祥圆满。

Word by Word

• ज्ञानतीर्थम्: the knowledge tīrtha
• ज्ञानतीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ज्ञानस्य तीर्थम्)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• गुह्यम्: secret
• गुह्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• वाराहम्: of Varāha
• वाराहम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाराह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तीर्थम्)

• तीर्थम्: tīrtha
• तीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• यमतीर्थम्: the Yama tīrtha
• यमतीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यमस्य तीर्थम्)

• महापुण्यम्: greatly meritorious
• महापुण्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महच्च तत् पुण्यम्) विशेषणम् (तीर्थम्)

• तीर्थम्: tīrtha
• तीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• संवर्तकम्: bringing about (transformation/ending)
• संवर्तकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संवर्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तीर्थम्)

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing the sages (including Indradyumna in the broader dialogue)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Jñāna-tīrtha
• Vārāha-tīrtha
• Yama
• Yama-tīrtha
• Saṁvartaka-tīrtha
• Varāha (Viṣṇu)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By elevating “Jñāna-tīrtha” as supreme and esoteric, the verse implies that the highest purification is inner—knowledge that leads toward realization—while outer pilgrimage supports that inward aim.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No single technique is named, but the primacy of “Jñāna-tīrtha” points to jñāna-oriented sādhana—study, contemplation, and disciplined inner purification—consistent with Purāṇic yoga where tīrtha-yātrā is paired with self-restraint and insight.

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

It frames sacred geography as a shared dharmic field: a Viṣṇu-linked tīrtha (Vārāha) and a dharma-deity tīrtha (Yama) are honored together, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s integrative approach where sectarian boundaries yield to a unified sacred order.