Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 36

Narmadā–Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Sequence of Sacred Fords and Their Fruits

Devanagari script

नर्मदायोत्तरे कूले तीर्थं परमशोभनम् / आदित्यायतनं रम्यमीश्वरेण तु भाषितम्

Transliteration

narmadāyottare kūle tīrthaṃ paramaśobhanam / ādityāyatanaṃ ramyamīśvareṇa tu bhāṣitam

Translation

在那尔摩陀河（Narmadā）北岸，有一处极其辉煌的圣渡（tīrtha）：可喜的阿底提耶（Āditya，日神）圣殿；此乃伊湿伐罗（Īśvara）亲自宣说。

Word by Word

• नर्मदायाः: of the Narmadā
• नर्मदायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्मदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उत्तरे: on the northern
• उत्तरे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कूले)

• कूले: bank
• कूले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• परमशोभनम्: exceedingly beautiful
• परमशोभनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम-शोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तीर्थम्); कर्मधारयः (परमं शोभनम्)

• आदित्यायतनम्: the shrine/abode of Āditya (the Sun)
• आदित्यायतनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य-आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आदित्यस्य आयतनम्)

• रम्यम्: delightful
• रम्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (आदित्यायतनम्)

• ईश्वरेण: by Īśvara (the Lord)
• ईश्वरेण: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण/कर्तृ-निर्देशः (agent in passive)

• तु: indeed; and
• तु: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक निपात (particle: ‘indeed/but’)

• भाषितम्: spoken; declared
• भाषितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः

Speaker

Īśvara (as the authoritative divine narrator within the Kurma Purana’s tirtha-mahatmya discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narmadā
• Tīrtha
• Āditya (Sūrya)
• Īśvara

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It does so indirectly: by naming the site as “spoken by Īśvara,” it grounds sacred geography in divine authority—suggesting that the Lord (Īśvara), immanent in holy places and deities like Āditya, is the ultimate sanctifier behind pilgrimage and inner realization.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to tīrtha-sevana—pilgrimage and worship at a consecrated shrine—as a supporting discipline: purification through sacred place, devatā-upāsanā (Sun worship), and reverent hearing/remembering of Īśvara’s teaching, which in the Kurma tradition complements Pāśupata-oriented sādhana.

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

By using the title “Īśvara” while praising an Āditya-shrine, it reflects the Purana’s integrative theology: divine speech and sanctity are attributed to the supreme Lord beyond sectarian limits, consistent with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.