Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

Genealogies of Yadus and Vṛṣṇis; Navaratha’s Refuge to Sarasvatī; Rise of Sāttvata Tradition; Prelude to Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma Incarnation

Devanagari script

स लब्ध्वा वरमव्यग्रो वरेण्यं वृषवाहनम् / पूजयामास गानेन स्थाणुं त्रिदशपूजितम्

Transliteration

sa labdhvā varamavyagro vareṇyaṃ vṛṣavāhanam / pūjayāmāsa gānena sthāṇuṃ tridaśapūjitam

Translation

فلمّا نالَ تلك النعمة سكن قلبُه وزال اضطرابه؛ وعبدَ بالترانيمِ الربَّ المختار ذا راية الثور (شِيفا Śiva)، الجليلَ سْثانو (Sthāṇu) الذي تعبده الآلهة.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• लब्ध्वा: having obtained
• लब्ध्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having obtained’

• वरम्: boon
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अव्यग्रः: unperturbed/unhurried
• अव्यग्रः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वरेण्यम्: most excellent/choice-worthy
• वरेण्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरेण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वृषवाहनम्: (Śiva) whose vehicle is the bull
• वृषवाहनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष + वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वृषस्य वाहनम्)

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

• गानेन: by singing
• गानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्थाणुम्: Sthāṇu (Śiva)
• स्थाणुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थाणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (शिवनाम)

• त्रिदशपूजितम्: worshipped by the gods
• त्रिदशपूजितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिदश + पूजित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (त्रिदशैः पूजितम्); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration, traditionally Sūta/authorial voice) describing the devotee’s act after receiving a boon

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sthanu
• Vrishavahana
• Devas (Tridasha)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By highlighting “avyagra” (unagitated steadiness) after divine grace, the verse points to inner composure as a mark of spiritual alignment—where devotion stabilizes the mind and reflects the Self’s unshaken nature.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes devotional discipline through gāna/stuti (sung praise) as a mind-focusing sādhana; the resulting “avyagra” state aligns with yogic steadiness (citta-sthairya) valued in Pāśupata-oriented practice.

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

Even within a Vaiṣṇava-framed Purāṇa, Śiva is praised as “vṛṣavāhana” and “tridaśapūjita,” reinforcing the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology where devotion to Śiva is affirmed as fully legitimate within a broader non-sectarian dharma.