Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 112

Adhyāya 25 — Liṅga-māhātmya (The Chapter on the Liṅga): Hari’s Śiva-Worship and the Fiery Pillar Theophany

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा सकृदपि ह्येतत् तपश्चरणमुत्तमम् / वासुदेवस्य विप्रेन्द्राः पापं मुञ्चिति मानवः

Transliteration

śrutvā sakṛdapi hyetat tapaścaraṇamuttamam / vāsudevasya viprendrāḥ pāpaṃ muñciti mānavaḥ

Translation

يا سادةَ البراهمة، حتى بسماعٍ واحدٍ لهذه الرياضة الزهدية العُليا المكرَّسة لفاسوديفا، يتحرر الإنسان من الخطيئة.

Word by Word

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), having heard

• sakṛt: once
• sakṛt: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sakṛt (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात), emphasis/indeed (निश्चयार्थक)

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• tapaḥ-caraṇam: practice of austerity
• tapaḥ-caraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + caraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) (tapaś-caraṇam = tapasā caraṇam / tapaḥ-caraṇam), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• uttamam: supreme, excellent
• uttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); viśeṣaṇa of tapaḥ-caraṇam

• vāsudevasya: of Vāsudeva
• vāsudevasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• vipra-indrāḥ: O best of Brahmins
• vipra-indrāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) (viprāṇām indraḥ), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Plural (बहुवचन)

• pāpam: sin
• pāpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• muñciti: releases, casts off
• muñciti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्/present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Third person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• mānavaḥ: a man, human
• mānavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) addressing the sages (viprendrāḥ), within the Kurma Purana’s discourse praising Vāsudeva-oriented dharma and tapas

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies the Lord (Vāsudeva) is the inner purifier: contact with His teaching—through even a single act of śravaṇa—removes pāpa, suggesting liberation begins with turning the mind toward the indwelling Supreme.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights tapaś-caraṇa—disciplined austerity/observance—supported by śravaṇa (hearing). In Kurma Purana’s yoga-dharma frame, purification (pāpa-kṣaya) is a prerequisite for steadiness in meditation and devotion.

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

While explicitly naming Vāsudeva, it fits the Purana’s integrative approach: purification and tapas are shared spiritual means across Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava paths, pointing to one Supreme approached through complementary disciplines.