Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 110

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

Devanagari script

विभीषणाय रुद्राय नमस्ते कृत्तिवाससे / नमस्ते लेलिहानाय शितिकण्ठाय ते नमः

Transliteration

vibhīṣaṇāya rudrāya namaste kṛttivāsase / namaste lelihānāya śitikaṇṭhāya te namaḥ

Translation

السجود لكَ يا رودرا المهيبَ المخيف، يا لابسَ جلدِ الحيوان. السجود لكَ يا من يتلظّى كالنارِ الآكلة؛ السجود لكَ يا شيتكانثا، يا أزرقَ الحلق—مرّةً بعد مرّةٍ لكَ سجودي.

Word by Word

• विभीषणाय: to the terrifying one
• विभीषणाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; विशेषण (terrible/awesome)

• रुद्राय: to Rudra
• रुद्राय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; enclitic form

• कृत्ति-वाससे: to the hide-clad one
• कृत्ति-वाससे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘कृत्तिः वासः यस्य’ (one whose garment is a hide)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; enclitic form

• लेलिहानाय: to the licking one (tongue-flashing)
• लेलिहानाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लेलिहान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √लिह्)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘लिहन्’ (licking)

• शिति-कण्ठाय: to the blue-throated one
• शिति-कण्ठाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिति (प्रातिपदिक) + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘शितिः (नीलः/धवलः) कण्ठः यस्य’ (blue/ashen-throated)

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; enclitic form

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

Speaker

A devotee/narrative voice offering a hymn of praise to Rudra (within the Kurma Purana’s Śaiva-Vaiṣṇava synthesis framework)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By praising Rudra through multiple epithets (terrifying, skin-clad ascetic, flaming power, blue-throated), the verse implies one Supreme reality manifesting diverse cosmic functions—ascetic transcendence and world-protecting immanence—pointing to a single Lord as the inner Self behind opposites.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse functions as japa-oriented stuti: meditative repetition of divine names (nāma-smaraṇa) to concentrate the mind on Īśvara’s attributes—fearsome power (vibhīṣaṇa), tapas/renunciation (kṛttivāsa), and transformative inner fire (lelihāna)—supporting Pāśupata-style devotion, purification, and one-pointed contemplation.

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

Within the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology, such Rudra-praise is not sectarian rivalry but recognition of Īśvara’s unified sovereignty: Śiva is adored as the same supreme Lord whose worship aligns with Vaiṣṇava devotion, reinforcing the text’s non-competitive Shaiva–Vaishnava harmony.