Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

Madhu–Kaiṭabha, Nārāyaṇa’s Yoga-Nidrā, Rudra’s Manifestation, and the Aṣṭamūrti–Trimūrti Teaching

Devanagari script

नमस्त्रिमूर्तये तुभ्यं ब्रह्मणो जनकाय ते / ब्रह्मविद्याधिपतये ब्रह्मविद्याप्रदायिने

Transliteration

namastrimūrtaye tubhyaṃ brahmaṇo janakāya te / brahmavidyādhipataye brahmavidyāpradāyine

Translation

Ehrerbietung Dir, der du Trimūrti, die dreifache Gestalt, bist. Ehrerbietung Dir, dem Erzeuger Brahmās. Ehrerbietung Dir, dem Herrn der Brahma‑vidyā (Erkenntnis des Absoluten), und Dir, der Brahma‑vidyā verleiht.

Word by Word

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), salutation particle

• tri-mūrtaye: to the three-formed one
• tri-mūrtaye: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग; mūrti), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); dvigu: 'of three forms' (त्रयः मूर्तयः) as epithet

• tubhyam: to you
• tubhyam: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahmā/Brahman
• brahmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• janakāya: to the progenitor/father
• janakāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• brahma-vidyā-adhipataye: to the Lord of Brahma-knowledge
• brahma-vidyā-adhipataye: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma (प्रातिपदिक) + vidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: 'lord of brahma-knowledge' (ब्रह्मविद्यायाः अधिपतिः)

• brahma-vidyā-pradāyine: to the giver of Brahma-knowledge
• brahma-vidyā-pradāyine: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma (प्रातिपदिक) + vidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + pradāyin (प्रातिपदिक; from pra+√dā)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'giver of brahma-knowledge' (ब्रह्मविद्यां प्रददाति इति)

Speaker

A devotee-sage offering praise within the Ishvara Gita discourse (addressing the Supreme Lord identified with Shiva–Vishnu unity)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Trimurti
• Brahma
• Brahma-vidya

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the source behind the cosmic functions (Trimūrti) and as the giver of Brahma-vidyā, implying that realization of the Self/Brahman depends on grace and right knowledge bestowed by the highest Lord.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

While not listing techniques, the verse frames the Ishvara Gita’s yogic path as Brahma-vidyā-centered: devotion (namas), surrender to Īśvara, and receiving liberating knowledge—core to the Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-oriented emphasis on grace plus discipline.

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

By praising one Supreme as “Trimūrti” and as the source of Brahmā and liberating knowledge, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic stance: a single Īśvara is honored beyond sectarian separation, accommodating Shaiva–Vaishnava unity.