Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25
Genealogies of Kaśyapa and Pulastya; Rise of Brahmavādin Lines and Rākṣasa Branches
द्वैपायनाच्छ्रको जज्ञे भगवानेव शङ्करः / अंशांशेनावतीर्योर्व्यां स्वं प्राप परमं पदम्
dvaipāyanācchrako jajñe bhagavāneva śaṅkaraḥ / aṃśāṃśenāvatīryorvyāṃ svaṃ prāpa paramaṃ padam
Aus Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa) wurde Śraka geboren—kein anderer als Bhagavān Śaṅkara selbst. Nachdem er durch einen Teil eines Teils (seiner göttlichen Macht) in die Welt herabgestiegen war, erreichte er später seinen eigenen höchsten Zustand.
Narrator (Purāṇic narrator in the Kurma Purana’s discourse context)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It implies that the divine can appear in a limited, partial manifestation (aṃśāṃśa) while remaining established in its own highest reality (paramaṃ padam), pointing to an unchanging supreme ground beyond embodied appearance.
No specific technique is taught in this verse; however, its thrust supports the Kurma Purana’s Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava yogic framework where disciplined practice culminates in realization of the highest state (paramaṃ padam), a key goal also echoed in Pāśupata-oriented teachings.
By calling Śaṅkara “Bhagavān” and presenting his descent as a divine manifestation, the verse aligns with the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: Śiva’s appearance in the world is compatible with a single supreme reality expressed through different divine forms.