Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

Kali-yuga Doṣas, the Supremacy of Rudra as Refuge, and the Closure of the Manvantara Teaching

Devanagari script

संसारतारणं रुद्रं ब्रह्माणं ब्रह्मणो ऽधिपम् / शाश्वतं सर्वगं ब्रह्मण्यं ब्राह्मणप्रियम्

Transliteration

saṃsāratāraṇaṃ rudraṃ brahmāṇaṃ brahmaṇo 'dhipam / śāśvataṃ sarvagaṃ brahmaṇyaṃ brāhmaṇapriyam

Translation

أُجِلُّ رودرا (Rudra)—مُعَبِّرَ السَّمْسارا (saṃsāra) ومُنقِذَها—الذي هو براهما (Brahmā) وهو سيّدُ البراهمان (Brahman). هو الأزليُّ الساري في كلّ مكان، المخلصُ للدارما والڤيدا، المحبوبُ لدى البراهمة (Brāhmaṇa).

Word by Word

• saṃsāratāraṇam: deliverer from saṃsāra
• saṃsāratāraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃsāra-tāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; samāsa: saṃsārasya tāraṇam (genitive tatpuruṣa) used as epithet

• rudram: Rudra
• rudram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• brahmāṇam: Brahmā / the Creator
• brahmāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular (brahmāṇa- form)

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahmā / of Brahman
• brahmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter stem usage, Genitive (6th), Singular

• adhipam: overlord; ruler
• adhipam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; governed by preceding genitive brahmaṇaḥ

• śāśvatam: eternal
• śāśvatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāśvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• sarvagam: all-pervading
• sarvagam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarvaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; samāsa: sarva + ga (one who goes everywhere)

• brahmaṇyam: favorable to Brahmins; pious
• brahmaṇyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahmaṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• brāhmaṇapriyam: dear to Brahmins
• brāhmaṇapriyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brāhmaṇa-priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; samāsa: brāhmaṇānāṃ priyaḥ (genitive tatpuruṣa)

Speaker

Narrative voice within a hymn-like praise (stuti) in the Kurma Purana’s Purva-bhaga, presenting Rudra in a Shaiva–Vaishnava synthetic theology

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Brahman
• Brahma
• Brāhmaṇas

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling Rudra “lord of Brahman,” “eternal,” and “all-pervading,” the verse frames the Supreme as the transcendent-immanent reality that governs and pervades all—an Ishvara who leads beings beyond saṃsāra toward liberation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse is primarily a stuti (devotional praise). In the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva framework, such praise supports devotion (bhakti) and contemplation on the all-pervading Lord—foundational attitudes that complement Pashupata-oriented discipline and meditative absorption on Ishvara.

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

It uses expansive, non-sectarian titles—identifying Rudra with “Brahmā” and as “lord of Brahman”—to present divinity as one supreme reality expressed through different names and functions, consistent with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.