Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 36

Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rudra’s Samanvaya Teaching

Maṅkaṇaka Episode

Devanagari script

अन्यत् कोकामुखं विष्णोस्तीर्थमद्भुतकर्मणः / मृतो ऽत्र पातकैर्मुक्तो विष्णुसारूप्यमाप्नुयात्

Transliteration

anyat kokāmukhaṃ viṣṇostīrthamadbhutakarmaṇaḥ / mṛto 'tra pātakairmukto viṣṇusārūpyamāpnuyāt

Translation

又有毗湿奴的一处圣渡，名“科迦穆卡”(Kokāmukha)，以神奇威力著称。若有人于彼处舍身，便脱离罪垢，并得“同形解脱”(sārūpya-mukti)，形相与毗湿奴相似。

Word by Word

• अन्यत्: another
• अन्यत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• कोकामुखम्: Kokāmukha (a place-name)
• कोकामुखम्: Visheshya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोका-मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कोकायाः मुखम् / कोकस्य मुखम्; स्थाननाम)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• तीर्थम्: sacred ford/pilgrimage place
• तीर्थम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• अद्भुतकर्मणः: of wondrous deeds
• अद्भुतकर्मणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत-कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (अद्भुतं कर्म यस्य)

• मृतः: (one who is) dead
• मृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; कर्तरि-भाव (one who has died)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (here)

• पातकैः: by/with sins
• पातकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental); बहुवचन

• मुक्तः: freed
• मुक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; “freed”

• विष्णुसारूप्यम्: likeness to Viṣṇu
• विष्णुसारूप्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु-सारूप्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (विष्णोः सारूप्यम् = likeness to Viṣṇu)

• आप्नुयात्: would attain
• आप्नुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting the tirtha-mahatmya as taught in the Purana’s dialogue tradition

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Kokāmukha Tirtha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames liberation as attaining Viṣṇu’s sāyujya-type proximity through sārūpya (sharing the divine form), implying the Supreme is the final refuge beyond sin and karmic limitation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse emphasizes tīrtha-sevā and sacred death (kṣetra-maraṇa) as a purificatory means; in the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching, such external dharma supports inner disciplines (japa, dhyāna, and devotion) leading toward mokṣa.

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

While explicitly Vaiṣṇava (Viṣṇu-tīrtha and Viṣṇu-sārūpya), the Kurma Purana’s overall synthesis treats tīrtha, dharma, and liberation as shared aims across Śaiva-Vaiṣṇava streams, harmonizing pilgrimage merit with yoga and devotion.