Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 37

Narmadā-tīrtha-māhātmya — Bhṛgu-tīrtha to Sāgara-saṅgama

Pilgrimage Circuit, Gifts, Fasting, and Imperishable Merit

Devanagari script

एषा पवित्रा विमला नदी त्रैलोक्यविश्रुता / नर्मदा सरितां श्रेष्ठा महादेवस्य वल्लभा

Transliteration

eṣā pavitrā vimalā nadī trailokyaviśrutā / narmadā saritāṃ śreṣṭhā mahādevasya vallabhā

Translation

此河清净圣洁、无垢无染，名闻三界。她即那尔摩达（Narmadā），诸河之最胜，为大天摩诃提婆（湿婆）所挚爱。

Word by Word

• eṣā: this (she)
• eṣā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (प्रथमा/ Nominative), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• pavitrā: pure, holy
• pavitrā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pavitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of nadī

• vimalā: spotless, stainless
• vimalā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vimala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of nadī

• nadī: river
• nadī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• trailokya-viśrutā: renowned in the three worlds
• trailokya-viśrutā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri-loka (प्रातिपदिक) + viśruta (कृदन्त; √śru धातु, क्त)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘trailokyasya viśrutā’

• narmadā: Narmadā (river)
• narmadā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: narmadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• saritām: of rivers
• saritām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (षष्ठी/Genitive), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• śreṣṭhā: best, foremost
• śreṣṭhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of narmadā

• mahādevasya: of Mahādeva (Śiva)
• mahādevasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahādeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya-samāsa (कर्मधारय) mahān ca saḥ devaḥ

• vallabhā: beloved (consort/favorite)
• vallabhā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject/Predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vallabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic discourse voice, praising a tīrtha/river as part of sacred geography)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narmada
• Mahadeva (Shiva)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by praising a purifier (Narmadā) as “spotless,” the verse points to purity (śuddhi) as a prerequisite for realizing the Self—inner clarity that supports knowledge and devotion.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes tīrtha-sevā and śuddhi (purification). In the Kurma Purana’s broader yogic frame, such outer purification supports inner discipline—japa, dhyāna, and devotion—leading toward steadiness of mind.

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

By honoring Narmadā as beloved of Mahādeva within the Kurma Purana’s Vaiṣṇava setting, it reflects the text’s Shaiva–Vaiṣṇava synthesis: sacred places and powers are revered as harmoniously connected, not sectarian rivals.