Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

Kapardeśvara at Piśācamocana — Liberation of a Piśāca and the Brahmapāra Hymn

Devanagari script

शङ्कुकर्ण उवाच कपर्दिनं त्वां परतः परस्ताद् गोप्तारमेकं पुरुषं पुराणम् / व्रजामि योगेश्वरमीशितार- मादित्यमग्निं कपिलाधिरूढम्

Transliteration

śaṅkukarṇa uvāca kapardinaṃ tvāṃ parataḥ parastād goptāramekaṃ puruṣaṃ purāṇam / vrajāmi yogeśvaramīśitāra- mādityamagniṃ kapilādhirūḍham

Translation

قال شانكوكَرْنا: إليك ألجأ، يا كاباردين—يا من هو الأسمى فوق الأسمى—الحامي الواحد، البوروشا القديم. أتقرّب إليك بوصفك ربّ اليوغا، الحاكمَ السيّد؛ وبوصفك الشمسَ والنارَ؛ وبوصفك الجالسَ على كابيلا.

Word by Word

• śaṅkukarṇaḥ: Śaṅkukarṇa
• śaṅkukarṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅku + karṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper name; तत्पुरुष: ‘śaṅku-like ear’/name Śaṅkukarṇa

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; √vac ‘to speak’

• kapardinam: Kapardin (O Śiva)
• kapardinam: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapardin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; vocative sense in address though accusative used in praise-context

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• parataḥ: beyond
• parataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paratas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (adverb), comparative sense ‘beyond/farther’

• parastāt: beyond (even further)
• parastāt: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: parastāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (adverb), ‘beyond, on the farther side’

• goptāram: protector
• goptāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: goptṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agent noun ‘protector’

• ekam: one
• ekam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies goptāram/puruṣam

• puruṣam: Person (Supreme Being)
• puruṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• purāṇam: ancient, primeval
• purāṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies puruṣam

• vrajāmi: I go / I resort to
• vrajāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vraj (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 1st Person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular

• yogeśvaram: Lord of Yoga
• yogeśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘lord of yoga’

• īśitāram: the controller
• īśitāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘ruler/controller’

• ādityam: Āditya (Sun)
• ādityam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āditya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; apposition as solar deity

• agnim: Agni (Fire)
• agnim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; apposition

• kapilādhirūḍham: mounted upon Kapila / the tawny mount
• kapilādhirūḍham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kapila + adhirūḍha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष: kapilam adhirūḍhaḥ ‘mounted on Kapila (or the tawny one)’; qualifies the addressed deity

Speaker

Śaṅkukarṇa

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kapardin (Śiva)
• Purāṇa Puruṣa (Ancient Supreme Person)
• Yogeśvara
• Āditya (Sun)
• Agni (Fire)
• Kapila

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to a single, primordial Purusha who is “beyond the beyond,” indicating the Supreme Self as transcendent, singular, and the ultimate protector underlying all manifestations.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse centers on śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) in the Yogeśvara—implying meditation on the Lord as the inner ruler (īśitā) and as cosmic functions (Sun and Fire), a contemplative method aligned with Purāṇic yoga and Pāśupata-oriented devotion.

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

By addressing Kapardin (Śiva) while describing the one Supreme Person as cosmic Lord and protector, it reflects Kurma Purana’s synthetic stance: the highest reality is one, praised through Śaiva epithets yet affirmed as the singular Īśvara beyond sectarian division.