Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 124

Prāyaścitta for Theft, Forbidden Foods, Impurity, and Ritual Lapses; Tīrtha–Vrata Remedies; Pativratā Mahātmyam via Sītā and Agni

Devanagari script

प्रपद्ये तत्परं तत्त्वं वरेण्यं सवितुः स्वयम् / भर्गमग्निपरं ज्योती रक्ष मां हव्यवाहन

Transliteration

prapadye tatparaṃ tattvaṃ vareṇyaṃ savituḥ svayam / bhargamagniparaṃ jyotī rakṣa māṃ havyavāhana

Translation

আমি সেই পরম তত্ত্বের শরণ গ্রহণ করি—যিনি বরণীয়, স্বয়ং সবিতা; যাঁর পবিত্র ভর্গ-প্রভা অগ্নিনিষ্ঠ পরম জ্যোতি। হে হব্যবাহন, আমাকে রক্ষা করো।

Word by Word

• प्रपद्ये: I take refuge
• प्रपद्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √पद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• तत्-परम्: the supreme (therein)
• तत्-परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘तस्मिन् परम्’ (supreme in/with respect to That)

• तत्त्वम्: the reality/principle
• तत्त्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (principle/reality)

• वरेण्यम्: most excellent, worthy of choice
• वरेण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरेण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘वरेण्य’ = to be chosen/most excellent

• सवितुः: of Savitṛ (the Sun)
• सवितुः: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सवितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; (of Savitṛ/the Sun)

• स्वयम्: himself / directly
• स्वयम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; आत्मनः/स्वतः (indeclinable: oneself, by oneself)

• भर्गम्: radiance/splendor
• भर्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (radiance, splendor)

• अग्नि-परम्: supreme as Agni / Agni-supreme
• अग्नि-परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘अग्नौ परम्’/‘अग्निं परं यस्य’ (supreme as Agni / having Agni as supreme)

• ज्योतिः: light
• ज्योतिः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; रूपम् ‘ज्योतिः’ (acc.=nom. in -is stems)

• रक्ष: protect
• रक्ष: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् (protect!)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• हव्य-वाहन: O carrier of oblations (Agni)
• हव्य-वाहन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘हव्यं वहति’ (carrier of oblations), संबोधनार्थे

Speaker

A devotee/ritual practitioner offering Agni-stuti within the narrative frame (Purva-bhaga discourse attributed to the Purana’s sages)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Savitṛ
• Agni
• Havyavāhana
• Bharga
• Jyotis

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to a single “supreme tattva” known as the highest, experienced as self-luminous “jyotis” and as purifying “bharga,” indicating the Atman/Brahman as the ultimate light that sanctifies and guides.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports dhyāna on inner light (jyoti-dhyāna) and śaraṇāgati (surrender), using Agni as both ritual fire and yogic symbol—purification, focus, and protection through mantra-recitation and contemplative identification with the purifying radiance.

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

By presenting the Supreme as one tattva approached through Vedic deities (Savitṛ/Agni), it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology: diverse divine forms function as gateways to one highest reality, aligning with the text’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.