Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

Brahmā’s Lotus-Birth, the Sealing of the Cosmic Womb, and the Epiphany of Parameśvara

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

सहस्त्रशीर्षा भूत्वा स सहस्त्राक्षः सहस्त्रपात् / सहस्त्रबाहुः सर्वज्ञश्चिन्त्यमानो मनीषिभिः

Transliteration

sahastraśīrṣā bhūtvā sa sahastrākṣaḥ sahastrapāt / sahastrabāhuḥ sarvajñaścintyamāno manīṣibhiḥ

Translation

متجلّيًا بألفِ رأسٍ، يصيرُ ذا ألفِ عينٍ وألفِ قدم؛ ذا ألفِ ذراعٍ، عليمًا بكلِّ شيء—يتأمّله الحكماء في قلوبهم.

Word by Word

• सहस्र-शीर्षा: having a thousand heads
• सहस्र-शीर्षा: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शीर्षन्/शीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—सहस्रं शीर्षाणि यस्य सः

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: पूर्वकाल (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सहस्र-अक्षः: having a thousand eyes
• सहस्र-अक्षः: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि/अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—सहस्रम् अक्षीणि यस्य सः

• सहस्र-पात्: having a thousand feet
• सहस्र-पात्: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘पात्’ = पाद-शब्दस्य प्रातिपदिक-रूपम्; बहुव्रीहिः—सहस्रं पादाः यस्य सः

• सहस्र-बाहुः: having a thousand arms
• सहस्र-बाहुः: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—सहस्रं बाहवः यस्य सः

• सर्व-ज्ञः: all-knowing
• सर्व-ज्ञः: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—सर्वं जानाति इति/सर्वेषां ज्ञः (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• चिन्त्यमानः: being contemplated
• चिन्त्यमानः: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि-प्रयोगे शानच्/मान-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present passive participle); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मनीषिभिः: by sages/wise ones
• मनीषिभिः: करण (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic voice describing the Supreme for contemplation within the Kurma Purana’s dhyāna framework)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Supreme Lord (Īśvara/Nārāyaṇa in cosmic form)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It portrays the Supreme as all-pervading and all-knowing—symbolized by “thousand heads/eyes/feet/arms”—indicating an Īśvara whose awareness and power are not limited by a single body or location, and who is therefore fit to be realized through contemplation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds dhyāna (contemplative meditation): the yogin steadily visualizes/reflects upon the cosmic, omniscient Lord (cintyamānaḥ). In the Kurma Purana’s yogic tone, such Īśvara-dhyāna supports one-pointedness (ekāgratā) and devotion-infused concentration used in Pāśupata-oriented discipline.

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

By emphasizing a single, cosmic Īśvara who is contemplated by sages, the verse supports the Purāṇic non-sectarian synthesis: the same Supreme Reality may be approached as Nārāyaṇa or as Śiva, with the viśvarūpa attributes expressing shared transcendence beyond sectarian form.