Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

Ikṣvāku-vaṃśa (Genealogy) culminating in Rāma; Setu-liṅga Māhātmya; Continuation through Kuśa and Lava

Devanagari script

विशेषाढ् ब्राह्मणान् सर्वान् पूजयामसचेश्वरम् / यज्ञेन यज्ञहन्तारमश्वमेधेन शङ्करम्

Transliteration

viśeṣāḍh brāhmaṇān sarvān pūjayāmasaceśvaram / yajñena yajñahantāramaśvamedhena śaṅkaram

Translation

لذلك، وبإجلالٍ خاص، أكرمنا جميعَ البراهمة—ومعهم أكرمنا الربّ. وبالـيَجْنَا عبدنا شَنْكَرَ، الذي يقيم القربان وهو أيضًا القادر على إنهائه؛ وعلى وجه الخصوص، بعَشْوَمِيدْهَا قدّمنا له أسمى التعظيم.

Word by Word

• विशेषात्: especially
• विशेषात्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘विशेषात्’ = specially/particularly

• ब्राह्मणान्: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ब्राह्मणान् इति विशेषण

• पूजयामास: honored / worshipped
• पूजयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘आमास’ परिप्रयोग

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord
• ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यज्ञेन: by (means of) a sacrifice
• यज्ञेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• यज्ञहन्तारम्: the destroyer of sacrifice
• यज्ञहन्तारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ + हन्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘यज्ञस्य हन्ता’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• अश्वमेधेन: by the Aśvamedha (horse-sacrifice)
• अश्वमेधेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व + मेध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अश्वस्य मेधः’ इति तत्पुरुष

• शङ्करम्: Śaṅkara (Shiva)
• शङ्करम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narratorial voice within the Purāṇic discourse (a speaker recounting ritual worship; traditionally within the Kurma Purāṇa dialogue frame involving sages and Lord Kūrma)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• Īśvara
• Yajña
• Aśvamedha
• Śaṅkara (Śiva)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents Īśvara as the inner lord connected with sacred action: honoring Brāhmaṇas and performing yajña becomes a mode of approaching the Supreme, who transcends ritual yet governs its power and culmination.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes karma-yoga in a Purāṇic frame—sacred duty (yajña) and reverent service to Brāhmaṇas performed as worship of Īśvara—preparing the mind for higher disciplines taught elsewhere (including Pāśupata-oriented devotion and inner steadiness).

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

By calling the worshiped deity both Īśvara and Śaṅkara in the same ritual context, it reflects the Kurma Purāṇa’s synthesizing stance: the one Supreme is approached through Śiva-form while remaining the universal Lord honored through dharma and yajña.