Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 35

Narmadā-māhātmya: Amarakāṇṭaka, Jāleśvara, Kapilā–Viśalyakaraṇī, and the Supreme Purifying Power of Darśana

Devanagari script

जालेश्वरं तीर्थवरं सर्वपापविनाशनम् / तत्र गत्वा नियमवान् सर्वकामांल्लभेन्नरः

Transliteration

jāleśvaraṃ tīrthavaraṃ sarvapāpavināśanam / tatra gatvā niyamavān sarvakāmāṃllabhennaraḥ

Translation

阇勒湿伐罗为最胜圣渡，能灭一切罪业。人若往彼处，守持戒律与行持，则能成就一切所愿。

Word by Word

• जालेश्वरम्: Jāleśvara (a sacred place/deity)
• जालेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जालेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; object of implied ‘to/visit’

• तीर्थवरम्: the best tīrtha
• तीर्थवरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; apposition to जालेश्वरम् ‘best sacred ford’

• सर्व: all
• सर्व: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: compound-member (पूर्वपद)

• पाप: sin
• पाप: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: compound-member (मध्यपद)

• विनाशनम्: destroyer (of sins)
• विनाशनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि-नश् (धातु) + ल्युट्/अन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; ‘destroyer/destruction (of)’ in apposition

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb of place (देशवाचक)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive) ‘having gone’

• नियमवान्: disciplined, observant
• नियमवान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियमवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; qualifying नरः

• सर्व: all
• सर्व: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: compound-member (पूर्वपद)

• कामान्: desires, wishes
• कामान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; object

• लभेत्: would obtain
• लभेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

Speaker

Narratorial voice within a tīrtha-māhātmya section (as transmitted by the Kurma Purana’s sage-narration tradition)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Jāleśvara
• Tīrtha
• Pāpa (sin)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames purification (sarva-pāpa-vināśana) and disciplined living (niyama) as prerequisites that make the mind fit to recognize higher truth; the verse emphasizes ethical-spiritual preparation rather than defining Ātman explicitly.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Niyama—regulated observances such as vows (vrata), purity, restraint, and disciplined conduct—presented as the operative sādhanā that makes pilgrimage spiritually efficacious, aligning with Purāṇic yoga that integrates conduct (ācāra) with inner purification.

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

By praising a Śaiva tīrtha (Jāleśvara) within the Kurma Purana’s Vaiṣṇava frame, it reflects the text’s synthesis: devotion and merit can be pursued through Śiva-associated holy places without sectarian opposition.