Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 67

Devī-tattva, Śakti–Śaktimān doctrine, Kāla–Māyā cosmology, and Māheśvara Yoga instruction

Devanagari script

कोटिसूर्यप्रितीकाशं तेजोबिम्बं निराकुलम् / ज्वालामालासहस्त्राढ्यं कालानलशतोपमम्

Transliteration

koṭisūryapritīkāśaṃ tejobimbaṃ nirākulam / jvālāmālāsahastrāḍhyaṃ kālānalaśatopamam

Translation

তিনি দেখলেন দিব্য তেজের নির্মল মণ্ডল—কোটি সূর্যের ন্যায় দীপ্ত, সম্পূর্ণ নিরাকুল ও প্রশান্ত; সহস্র জ্বালামালায় ভূষিত, যেন কালের অগ্নির শত শত প্রলয়াগ্নি।

Word by Word

• कोटि-सूर्य-प्रतīkāśम्: shining like crores of suns
• कोटि-सूर्य-प्रतīkāśम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: koṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + pratīkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘of (like) crores of suns’

• तेजः-बिम्बम्: a sphere of brilliance
• तेजः-बिम्बम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक) + bimba (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘orb/image of radiance’

• निराकुलम्: unperturbed, unconfused
• निराकुलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifies the described form

• ज्वाला-माला-सहस्र-आढ्यम्: adorned with thousands of flame-garlands
• ज्वाला-माला-सहस्र-आढ्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jvālā (प्रातिपदिक) + mālā (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक) + āḍhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘endowed with thousands of garlands of flames’

• काल-अनल-शत-उपमम्: like a hundred cosmic fires
• काल-अनल-शत-उपमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + anala (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘comparable to hundreds of fires of Time (cosmic fire)’

Speaker

Narrator (Vyāsa/Sūta tradition), describing the visionary form revealed in the Īśvara-gītā context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Īśvara (Supreme Lord)
• Kālāgni (Fire of Time)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It portrays the Supreme as pure, self-luminous consciousness—an unagitated (nirākula) radiance—suggesting the Atman/Īśvara is intrinsically luminous and untouched by disturbance, even while appearing as overwhelming cosmic power.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The imagery supports dhyāna on a tejo-bimba (orb of light): a yogic contemplation where the mind is gathered into steadiness by focusing on the Lord’s serene brilliance, aligning with the Īśvara-gītā’s emphasis on inner concentration and purification.

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

By describing Īśvara as both tranquil consciousness and the kālāgni-like cosmic power, the verse reflects the Purāṇa’s non-sectarian synthesis: the same Supreme reality is praised in Shaiva terms of Īśvara and in Vaishnava theophany as the Lord’s radiant form.