Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī

Devanagari script

नमो भैरवनादाय कालरूपाय दंष्ट्रिणे / नागयज्ञोपवीताय नमस्ते वह्निरेतसे

Transliteration

namo bhairavanādāya kālarūpāya daṃṣṭriṇe / nāgayajñopavītāya namaste vahniretase

Translation

السجودُ لك أيها الربّ الذي يزمجرُ بهيئةِ بهايرافا—المتجلّي بصورةِ الزمان (كالا)، ذو الأنياب؛ لابسُ الأفاعي خيطًا مقدّسًا (يَجْنْيُوبَڤيتا). سلامٌ لك، يا من كانت بذرتُه الحيويّة نارًا بذاتها.

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation; homage
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), नमस्कारार्थक-निपात (salutatory particle)

• भैरव-नादाय: to (him of) the Bhairava-roar
• भैरव-नादाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैरव (प्रातिपदिक) + नाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भैरवस्य नादः)

• काल-रूपाय: to the form of Time
• काल-रूपाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कालस्य रूपम्)

• दंष्ट्रिणे: to the fanged one
• दंष्ट्रिणे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंष्ट्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• नाग-यज्ञ-उपवीताय: to him whose sacred thread is (made of) serpents
• नाग-यज्ञ-उपवीताय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + उपवीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (नागः यज्ञोपवीतमिव यस्य/नागैः कृतं यज्ञोपवीतम्)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

• ते: to you/your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; enclitic

• वह्नि-रेतसे: to him whose seed is fire
• वह्नि-रेतसे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + रेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वह्नेः रेतः)

Speaker

A devotee/narratorial voice presenting a Śaiva stotra within the Purva-bhāga context (praise addressed to Śiva/Bhairava)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bhairava
• Kāla (Time)
• Nāga (serpent)
• Agni (Vahni)
• Śiva (implied as the addressed deity)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By identifying the Lord with Kāla (Time) and fiery essence, the verse points to a transcendent yet immanent Supreme principle that governs dissolution and transformation—traits used in Purāṇic theology to indicate the all-pervading, unstoppable reality behind embodied life.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse functions as a dhyāna-stotra: meditation on fierce divine attributes (Bhairava, Time, fire, serpents) to cultivate fearlessness, detachment, and inner steadiness—qualities aligned with Śaiva contemplative discipline and the Kurma Purana’s broader yogic-ethical orientation.

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

Though explicitly Śaiva in address (Bhairava), its placement in the Kurma Purana supports the text’s synthesis: sectarian forms are treated as revelations of one supreme Lord, allowing devotion to Śiva to harmonize with the Purāṇa’s overarching Vaiṣṇava framework.