Shloka 154

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

Devanagari script

कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशा ज्वालामालासमावृता / स्वभाभिर्विमलाभिस्तु पूरयन्ती नभस्तलम्

Transliteration

koṭisūryapratīkāśā jvālāmālāsamāvṛtā / svabhābhirvimalābhistu pūrayantī nabhastalam

Translation

তিনি কোটি সূর্যের ন্যায় দীপ্তিময়, জ্বালামালায় সর্বতোবেষ্টিত; আর নিজের নির্মল কিরণে আকাশমণ্ডল পূর্ণ করে দিচ্ছিলেন।

Word by Word

• कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशा: shining like crores of suns
• कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि + सूर्य + प्रतीकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (कोटिसूर्यवत् प्रतीकाशा = having the radiance like crores of suns); स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, fem.), देवी-विशेषणम्

• ज्वालामालासमावृता: surrounded by a garland of flames
• ज्वालामालासमावृता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वाला + माला + सम्-आ-वृत (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ज्वालामालया समावृता = enveloped by a garland of flames); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• स्वभाभिः: with her own splendors
• स्वभाभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural, fem.)

• विमलाभिः: pure, spotless
• विमलाभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural, fem.), स्वभाभिः विशेषणम्

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• पूरयन्ती: filling
• पूरयन्ती: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूर् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; धातु: पूर् (to fill)

• नभस्तलम्: the sky/firmament
• नभस्तलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस् + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नभसः तलम् = surface/expanse of the sky); नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (Accusative singular, neut.)

Speaker

Narrator (Purana-style description within the dialogue framework; presented as a visionary depiction rather than direct instruction)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Divine Radiance (Tejas)
• Surya (as a simile)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying an all-pervading, stainless radiance that fills the sky, the verse points to the Atman/Ishvara as pure tejas—self-luminous consciousness that is untainted (vimala) and expansive beyond ordinary limits.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The imagery supports jyoti-dhyana (meditation on inner light): the yogin contemplates an overwhelming, flame-wreathed brilliance as a sign of concentrated mind (ekāgratā) and the awakening of spiritual tejas emphasized in Pashupata-oriented discipline.

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

Rather than naming sectarian forms, it emphasizes a single, stainless radiance—consistent with the Kurma Purana’s synthetic approach where Shiva and Vishnu are understood through one supreme, luminous reality manifesting in different modes.