Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

Prayāga–Gaṅgā Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rules of Pilgrimage

Yātrā-vidhi

Devanagari script

सर्वत्र सुलभा गङ्गा त्रिषु स्थानेषु दुर्लभा / गङ्गाद्वारे प्रयागे च गङ्गासागरसंगमे

Transliteration

sarvatra sulabhā gaṅgā triṣu sthāneṣu durlabhā / gaṅgādvāre prayāge ca gaṅgāsāgarasaṃgame

Translation

恒河在许多地方都易于亲近，然而在三处圣地却真正稀有：在恒河门（Gaṅgā-dvāra）、在普罗耶伽（Prayāga），以及恒河入海与大海相会之处。

Word by Word

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatra (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• सुलभा: easily obtainable
• सुलभा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-labha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (adjective)

• गङ्गा: Ganga
• गङ्गा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.)

• त्रिषु: in three
• त्रिषु: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग (all genders), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन (pl.); संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• स्थानेषु: places
• स्थानेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन (pl.)

• दुर्लभा: hard to obtain
• दुर्लभा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur-labha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (adjective)

• गङ्गाद्वारे: at Gangā-dvāra (Haridwar)
• गङ्गाद्वारे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā-dvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): गङ्गायाः द्वारम्

• प्रयागे: at Prayaga
• प्रयागे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prayāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (sg.)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• गङ्गासागर-संगमे: at the confluence of the Ganga and the ocean
• गङ्गासागर-संगमे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā-sāgara-saṅgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/सम्बन्ध-तत्पुरुष: गङ्गायाः सागरस्य च संगमः (confluence of Ganga and ocean)

Speaker

Kurma (Vishnu) instructing about tīrtha-mahātmyam in a Dharma discourse context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Gangadvara (Haridvara)
• Prayaga
• Gangasagara

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that spiritual attainment depends not only on physical proximity but on rare, intensified conditions of sanctity—pointing to inner discernment (viveka) that seeks the highest efficacy rather than mere availability.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse emphasizes tīrtha-sevā (pilgrimage and sacred bathing) as a supportive discipline; in Kurma Purana’s broader yogic framework, such external purifications complement inner practices like japa, dhyāna, and self-restraint.

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

By centering on tīrtha-mahātmyam rather than sectarian identity, it reflects the Purana’s integrative stance: sacred places and purifying practices are upheld as universally efficacious within the Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.