Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 100

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

अथवा शतरुद्रीयं जपेदामरणाद् द्विजः / एकाकी यतचित्तात्मा स याति परमं पदम्

Transliteration

athavā śatarudrīyaṃ japedāmaraṇād dvijaḥ / ekākī yatacittātmā sa yāti paramaṃ padam

Translation

أو لِيَتْلُ المولودُ مرتين «شَتَرُدْرِيَّة» جَپًا إلى ساعة الموت؛ منفردًا، ضابطًا لعقله وروحه، يبلغ المقامَ الأعلى.

Word by Word

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-समुच्चय/विकल्प (disjunctive particle: “or else”)

• शतरुद्रीयम्: the Śatarudrīya (hymn)
• शतरुद्रीयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतरुद्रीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• आ: up to
• आ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधि-निर्देशक (limit marker)

• मरणात्: from death / until death (as limit)
• मरणात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• द्विजः: a twice-born (Brahmin)
• द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• एकाकी: alone
• एकाकी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकाकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of द्विजः)

• यतचित्तात्मा: with restrained mind and self
• यतचित्तात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यत-चित्त-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक); घटकाः: यत (कृदन्त/विशेषण) + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—“यस्य चित्तम् आत्मा च यतः/नियतः सः” (one whose mind and self are restrained)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• याति: goes/attains
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of पदम्)

• पदम्: state/abode
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (as Īśvara) instructing King Indradyumna and the sages (Ishvara Gita discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Śatarudrīya
• Dvija

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the “supreme state” (paramaṃ padam) as attainable through sustained mantra-japa with inner restraint, implying liberation is realized by purified, concentrated consciousness rather than mere external ritual.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Continuous japa of the Śatarudrīya, performed in solitude with disciplined mind (yata-citta) and inwardly governed self (yatātmā), reflects a Pāśupata-style integration of devotion, mantra, and meditative self-control.

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

Within the Ishvara Gita setting—spoken by Lord Kūrma—Rudra-centered practice is affirmed as a direct means to the highest goal, reflecting the Purāṇa’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis where devotion to Rudra is harmonized with the supreme teaching of Īśvara.