Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 11

Devadāru (Dāruvana) Forest: The Delusion of Ritual Pride, the Liṅga Crisis, and the Teaching of Jñāna–Pāśupata Yoga

Devanagari script

सुपीतवसनं दिव्यं श्यामलं चारुलोचनम् / उदारहंसचलनं विलासि सुमनोहरम्

Transliteration

supītavasanaṃ divyaṃ śyāmalaṃ cārulocanam / udārahaṃsacalanaṃ vilāsi sumanoharam

Translation

كان متوشّحًا بثيابٍ صفراء بهيّة، متألّقًا ذا طبيعةٍ إلهيّة—داكنَ اللون، جميلَ العينين—يمشي بمشيةِ بجعةٍ نبيلة؛ في هيئته دلالٌ ولطفٌ يأسرُ القلوب والعقول.

Word by Word

• सुपीत-वसनम्: having well-yellow (bright) garments
• सुपीत-वसनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + पीत (पा धातु, क्त/कृदन्त) + वसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘वसनम्’ इत्यस्य गुणवाचकः (neuter nom/acc sg, adjectival)

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg)

• श्यामलम्: dark-hued
• श्यामलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्यामल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg)

• चारु-लोचनम्: having beautiful eyes
• चारु-लोचनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चारु (प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg)

• उदार-हंस-चलनम्: with a gait like a noble swan
• उदार-हंस-चलनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदार (प्रातिपदिक) + हंस (प्रातिपदिक) + चलन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (हंसस्य चलनम्) + विशेषण-प्रयोगः; (neuter nom/acc sg)

• विलासि: playful, graceful
• विलासि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विलासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘विलासिन्’ शब्दस्य नपुंसक-एकवचन रूपम्; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg)

• सु-मनः-हरम्: very charming, mind-stealing
• सु-मनः-हरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक) + हर (हृ धातु, प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मनसः हरः) ‘मनःहर’ = मनोहर; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration describing the deity for dhyāna/upāsanā)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting a luminous, auspicious form for contemplation, the verse supports saguna-upāsanā: the mind is steadied on the divine form, which serves as a doorway to realizing the inner Self beyond distraction.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It functions as a dhyāna-śloka: visualizing the Lord’s yellow garments, dark radiance, serene eyes, and swan-like gait—an aid to ekāgratā (one-pointedness) used in bhakti-yoga and purāṇic upāsanā, harmonizing devotion with yogic concentration.

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

Though it describes a Vaiṣṇava iconography (Nārāyaṇa-like form), the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis treats such dhyāna as compatible with Śaiva-Pāśupata discipline—one supreme reality approached through multiple sacred forms and methods.