Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 17

Śrāddha-vidhi for Pitṛs: Invitations, Purity, Offerings, and Conduct

Devanagari script

अटव्यः पर्वताः पुण्यास्तीर्थान्यायतनानि च / सर्वाण्यस्वामिकान्याहुर्न हि तेषु परिग्रहः

Transliteration

aṭavyaḥ parvatāḥ puṇyāstīrthānyāyatanāni ca / sarvāṇyasvāmikānyāhurna hi teṣu parigrahaḥ

Translation

圣林、圣山、诸朝圣渡口（tīrtha）与神圣殿宇，皆被宣说为无私人所有；因为在这些地方，并无正当的占有与据为己有。

Word by Word

• अटव्यः: forests
• अटव्यः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अटवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• पर्वताः: mountains
• पर्वताः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पुण्याः: holy/meritorious
• पुण्याः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘अटव्यः/पर्वताः/…’

• तीर्थानि: pilgrimage places
• तीर्थानि: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• आयतनानि: shrines/abodes
• आयतनानि: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘अस्वामिकानि’

• अस्वामिकानि: ownerless
• अस्वामिकानि: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + स्वामिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; नञ्-समास/नञ्-पूर्वक-विशेषण (ownerless)

• आहुः: they say
• आहुः: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: निपात (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ-निपात (indeed/for)

• तेषु: in them
• तेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• परिग्रहः: possession/appropriation
• परिग्रहः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Traditional purāṇic narrator (Vyāsa/saūta-style narration) conveying dharma regarding tīrthas and sacred geography

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Tirtha
• Ayatana
• Parvata
• Atavi

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it supports the dharmic view that sacred spaces are not objects for egoic appropriation; the discipline of non-possessiveness (aparigraha) aligns the seeker toward inner purity conducive to realizing the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes aparigraha (non-grasping) as a practical yogic restraint: a pilgrim should approach tīrthas and temples without possessive claims, cultivating detachment and reverence—foundational for mantra, japa, and contemplative worship.

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

By treating tīrthas and āyatanas as universally sacred and not privately owned, it reflects the Purāṇic synthesis in which devotion and dharma transcend sectarian possession—supporting a shared sacred order honored by both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava traditions.