Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 53

Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rudra’s Samanvaya Teaching

Maṅkaṇaka Episode

Devanagari script

सहस्रशीर्षा भूत्वा सहस्राक्षः सहस्रपात् / दंष्ट्राकरालवदनो ज्वालामाली भयङ्करः

Transliteration

sahasraśīrṣā bhūtvā sahasrākṣaḥ sahasrapāt / daṃṣṭrākarālavadano jvālāmālī bhayaṅkaraḥ

Translation

فصار ذا ألفِ رأسٍ وألفِ عينٍ وألفِ قدمٍ؛ فمُه مروّعٌ بأنيابٍ بارزة، متقلّدٌ إكليلَ اللهيب، مُهيبٌ مخيفٌ للناظرين.

Word by Word

• sahasraśīrṣā: having a thousand heads
• sahasraśīrṣā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of rudraḥ/haraḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasra + śīrṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: yasya sahasraṃ śīrṣāṇi saḥ

• bhūtvā: having become
• bhūtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta (क्त्वान्त) absolutive; having become

• sahasrākṣaḥ: having a thousand eyes
• sahasrākṣaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasra + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: yasya sahasram akṣīṇi saḥ

• sahasrapāt: having a thousand feet
• sahasrapāt: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasra + pād (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: yasya sahasraṃ pādāḥ saḥ

• daṃṣṭrākarālavadanaḥ: with a fearsome fanged face
• daṃṣṭrākarālavadanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daṃṣṭrā + karāla + vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: yasya daṃṣṭrāḥ karālāḥ, vadanaṃ ca (one whose face is terrifying with fangs)

• jvālāmālī: garlanded with flames
• jvālāmālī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jvālā + mālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: jvālā-mālā yasya asti (mālin = garlanded)

• bhayaṅkaraḥ: terrifying
• bhayaṅkaraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhayaṅkara (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: bhayaṃ karoti iti

Speaker

Narrator (Purana narrator describing the manifested form within the dialogue context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Cosmic Form (Viśvarūpa-like manifestation)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By depicting an immeasurable, many-headed and many-eyed form, the verse points to the Supreme as beyond ordinary limitation—an all-pervading reality that can assume overwhelming cosmic manifestations while remaining the ground of consciousness.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports a contemplative method of dhyāna on the divine viśvarūpa—using awe (bhaya mixed with reverence) to withdraw the mind from the finite and stabilize it in one-pointed devotion and inner absorption, consistent with Kurma Purana’s yoga-oriented theism.

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

The imagery of a flame-wreathed, fearsome cosmic form resonates with both Śaiva (Bhairava/Rudra-like) and Vaiṣṇava (viśvarūpa) theological language, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s tendency to harmonize Shiva-Vishnu expressions as revelations of one Supreme.