Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 43

Daily Duties of Brāhmaṇas: Snāna, Sandhyā, Sūrya-hṛdaya, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and the Pañca-mahāyajñas

Devanagari script

नमस्यामि परं ज्योतिर्ब्रह्माणं त्वां परां गतिम् / विश्वं पशुपतिं भीमं नरनारीशरीरिणम्

Transliteration

namasyāmi paraṃ jyotirbrahmāṇaṃ tvāṃ parāṃ gatim / viśvaṃ paśupatiṃ bhīmaṃ naranārīśarīriṇam

Translation

أسجد لك—يا نورَ الأنوار الأعلى، يا براهْمَن، يا الملجأ الأسمى والغاية الأخيرة. أنتَ الكونُ نفسُه؛ وأنتَ باشوبَتي، الربُّ المهيبُ لجميع الكائنات، ذو الهيئة الجامعة للذكر والأنثى.

Word by Word

• namasyāmi: I bow; I worship
• namasyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: namas + √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Denominative verb (नामधातु) from namas; Laṭ/Present, 1st person, Singular, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifying jyotiḥ

• jyotiḥ: light; radiance
• jyotiḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyotis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular (form identical to nominative); object in apposition to tvām

• brahmāṇam: Brahmā / the Absolute (as addressed)
• brahmāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object/apposition to tvām

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Accusative (2nd), Singular

• parām: supreme
• parām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifying gatim

• gatim: goal; refuge; destination
• gatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• viśvam: the universe; all
• viśvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object/apposition to tvām

• paśupatim: Lord of beings (Paśupati)
• paśupatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśu + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'paśūnām patiḥ'

• bhīmam: terrible; awe-inspiring
• bhīmam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifying tvām

• naranārīśarīriṇam: one embodied as man and woman
• naranārīśarīriṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara + nārī + śarīrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'nara-nārī-śarīraṃ yasya saḥ' (one having male-and-female bodies/forms)

Speaker

A devotee/sage offering a stuti (hymn) to Pashupati-Rudra within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Param Jyoti (Supreme Light)
• Pashupati
• Rudra/Shiva (implied by Pashupati)
• Ardhanārīśvara (implied by nara-nārī-śarīriṇam)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the deity addressed as “param jyotiḥ” and “brahmāṇam,” indicating the Supreme as pure consciousness/light and the Absolute reality, who is also the final “gati”—the liberating refuge sought by the self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes upāsanā (contemplative worship): meditating on the Lord as the all-pervading Brahman (viśvam) and as the inner Supreme Light (param jyotiḥ). This aligns with Pāśupata-oriented devotion where realization comes through focused reverence, surrender, and Brahman-centered contemplation.

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

By praising Pashupati as Brahman and the Supreme Goal, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian stance: the highest reality can be addressed through Shaiva names and forms while remaining the same Supreme principle honored across Vaishnava and Shaiva traditions.