Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 40

Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion

Devanagari script

किन्तु देवं महादेवं सर्वशक्तिं सनातनम् / आराधयेद् वै गिरिशं सगुणं वाथ निर्गुणम्

Transliteration

kintu devaṃ mahādevaṃ sarvaśaktiṃ sanātanam / ārādhayed vai giriśaṃ saguṇaṃ vātha nirguṇam

Translation

لكن ينبغي حقًّا عبادة الإله—مهاديڤا، الأزليّ خزان جميع القوى—غيريشا (شيفا)، سواء أُدرك بسَغونا ذي الصفات أو بنِرغونا المتعالي عن الصفات.

Word by Word

• किन्तु: but/however
• किन्तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किन्तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपात (adversative particle)

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः

• सर्वशक्तिम्: all-powerful
• सर्वशक्तिम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वा शक्तिः यस्य/या) — विशेषणरूपेण (as epithet)

• सनातनम्: eternal
• सनातनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• आराधयेत्: should worship
• आराधयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-राध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; विध्यर्थ (injunctive sense: ‘should worship’)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• गिरिशम्: Lord of the mountain (Giriśa)
• गिरिशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गिरिणाम् ईशः)

• सगुणम्: with attributes
• सगुणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गुणैः सह)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• अथ: and/then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अनन्तरार्थ (and/then)

• निर्गुणम्: without attributes
• निर्गुणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्-गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गुणाभावः)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (Iśvara-gītā style Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Mahadeva
• Girish (Shiva)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as approachable in two valid modes: as saguṇa (with knowable attributes for devotion and meditation) and as nirguṇa (the attribute-less, transcendent reality), indicating a non-contradictory unity of personal and impersonal realization.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports a twofold contemplative discipline aligned with Purāṇic Yoga: upāsanā of a form (saguṇa dhyāna, mantra-japa, pūjā) and nirguṇa contemplation (inner absorption on the attributeless Brahman/Īśvara), both framed as legitimate approaches to Giriśa.

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

With Kūrma (a form of Viṣṇu) recommending worship of Śiva as the eternal all-powerful Lord, the text models Shaiva–Vaiṣṇava harmony: the one Supreme is honored through Śiva, without sectarian contradiction, in both saguṇa and nirguṇa theology.