Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

पिनाकिनं त्रिनयनं जटिलं कृत्तिवाससम् / पद्मासनस्थं रुक्माभं चिन्तयेद् वैदिकी श्रुतिः

Transliteration

pinākinaṃ trinayanaṃ jaṭilaṃ kṛttivāsasam / padmāsanasthaṃ rukmābhaṃ cintayed vaidikī śrutiḥ

Translation

تأمر الشروتي الفيدية أن يُتأمَّل شيفا—حامل قوس بيناكا، ذو العيون الثلاث، ذو الجَدائل، لابس الجلد—جالسًا في وضع اللوتس، متلألئًا ببريقٍ ذهبيّ.

Word by Word

• पिनाकिनम्: the bearer of the Pināka bow
• पिनाकिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिनाकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शिवस्य उपाधि

• त्रिनयनम्: three-eyed
• त्रिनयनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि-नयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रीणि नयनानि यस्य)

• जटिलम्: matted-haired
• जटिलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• कृत्तिवाससम्: clad in a skin
• कृत्तिवाससम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्ति-वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कृत्तिः वासः यस्य)

• पद्मासनस्थम्: seated in lotus posture
• पद्मासनस्थम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्मासन-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पद्मासने स्थितः)

• रुक्माभम्: golden-hued
• रुक्माभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुक्म-आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (रुक्मस्य आभा इव)

• चिन्तयेत्: should contemplate
• चिन्तयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should contemplate’

• वैदिकी: Vedic
• वैदिकी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैदिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; श्रुतेः विशेषणम्

• श्रुतिः: Śruti (revealed scripture)
• श्रुतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching the sages (Iśvara-gītā style instruction in the Upari-bhāga’s Śaiva-leaning yoga context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Pinaka
• Vedic Shruti

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By grounding meditation in “vaidikī śrutiḥ,” the verse frames the Supreme as knowable through disciplined contemplation: the transcendent is approached via a concrete īśvara-form (Śiva) whose radiance and yogic steadiness (padmāsana) point to the inner, luminous Self realized through dhyāna.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It prescribes īśvara-dhyāna: visualizing Śiva with specific iconographic marks while holding a stable meditative seat (padmāsana). This aligns with Pāśupata-oriented practice where focused contemplation on the Lord’s form steadies the mind and supports deeper absorption.

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

Within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, the instruction (voiced in a Vaiṣṇava setting through Lord Kūrma) authorizes Śiva-dhyāna by Vedic Śruti, presenting devotion and yoga as convergent paths rather than sectarian opposites—Śiva worship functioning within a broader, unified īśvara-teaching.