Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 106

Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

तस्मात् कार्यं त्रिशूलाङ्कं तथा च तिलकं शुभम् / त्रियायुषं च भक्तानां त्रयाणां विधिपूर्वकम्

Transliteration

tasmāt kāryaṃ triśūlāṅkaṃ tathā ca tilakaṃ śubham / triyāyuṣaṃ ca bhaktānāṃ trayāṇāṃ vidhipūrvakam

Translation

فلذلك ينبغي أن يُصنَع على الوجه الشرعيّ الوسمُ المباركُ بعلامةِ الرمحِ الثلاثيّ، وكذلك التِّيلَكَةُ المقدّسة؛ ووفق القاعدة الطقسية تُراعى «الثلاثية» التي تمنحُ العابدين طولَ عمرٍ ثلاثيَّ الوجوه.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore, from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कार्यम्: to be done, should be made
• कार्यम्: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विधेय—‘to be done’

• त्रि-शूल-अङ्कम्: marked with a trident
• त्रि-शूल-अङ्कम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + शूल (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘having the mark of a trident’

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तिलकम्: tilaka mark
• तिलकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• त्रि-आयुषम्: granting threefold longevity
• त्रि-आयुषम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘threefold life-span/long life’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भक्तानाम्: of devotees
• भक्तानाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• त्रयाणाम्: of the three
• त्रयाणाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण

• विधि-पूर्वकम्: according to rule, duly
• विधि-पूर्वकम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)

Speaker

Traditional narration in the Kurma Purana (instructional voice aligned with Shaiva observance; commonly framed as authoritative puranic teaching within the Kurma dialogue tradition)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Triśūla
• Tilaka
• Bhakta

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes disciplined external signs (triśūla-aṅka and tilaka) as supports for inner devotion, implying that realization is strengthened by ordered practice rather than mere symbolism.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It points to rule-based devotional discipline (vidhi) characteristic of Shaiva-Pāśupata orientation—using sacred marks as daily observances that steady the mind, reinforce identity as a bhakta, and prepare one for deeper yogic restraint and contemplation.

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

By presenting Shaiva emblems (triśūla, tilaka) within a Kurma Purana framework, it reflects the Purana’s synthetic approach where devotion and discipline associated with Shiva are affirmed within a broader Vishnu-Kurma puranic teaching tradition.