Shloka 38
Sūrya-vaṃśa Genealogy and the Supremacy of Tapas: Gāyatrī-Japa, Rudra-Darśana, and Śatarudrīya Upadeśa
विश्वामित्र उवाच यो ऽग्निः सर्वात्मको ऽनन्तः स्वयंभूर्विश्वतोमुखः / स रुद्रस्तपसोग्रेण पूज्यते नेतरैर्मखैः
viśvāmitra uvāca yo 'gniḥ sarvātmako 'nantaḥ svayaṃbhūrviśvatomukhaḥ / sa rudrastapasogreṇa pūjyate netarairmakhaiḥ
Viśvāmitra sprach: Jenes Feuer, das das Selbst von allem ist, unendlich, selbstgeboren und nach allen Richtungen gewandt—das ist Rudra; wahrhaft wird Er durch die strenge Kraft des Tapas verehrt, nicht allein durch andere Opferhandlungen (makha).
Vishvamitra
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It identifies the divine Fire as sarvātmaka—present as the Self in all beings—and as ananta and svayaṃbhū, indicating an unconditioned, self-existent reality that pervades all directions (viśvatomukhaḥ).
The verse prioritizes tapas—disciplined inner heat through austerity, restraint, and sustained yogic effort—over external ritual performance, aligning worship with interior transformation rather than mere ceremonial action.
By naming the all-pervading Agni-principle as Rudra, it presents divinity as one supreme reality approached through different forms and names—supporting the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where ultimate worship is inward (tapas) rather than exclusively ritualistic.