Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

Sūrya-vaṃśa Genealogy and the Supremacy of Tapas: Gāyatrī-Japa, Rudra-Darśana, and Śatarudrīya Upadeśa

Devanagari script

नमो देवाधिदेवाय ब्रह्मणे परमात्मने / हिर्ण्यमूर्तये तुभ्यं सहस्त्राक्षाय वेधसे

Transliteration

namo devādhidevāya brahmaṇe paramātmane / hirṇyamūrtaye tubhyaṃ sahastrākṣāya vedhase

Translation

Ehrerbietung dem Gott über allen Göttern—dem Brahman, dem höchsten Selbst. Ehrerbietung Dir, der du goldgestaltig bist; dem tausendäugigen Herrn; dem Vedhas, dem Schöpfer, der alles ordnet.

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Prayojana (सम्बोधन/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपातः

• देवाधिदेवाय: to the god over gods
• देवाधिदेवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + अधि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (देवानाम् अधिदेवः)

• ब्रह्मणे: to Brahman/Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• परमात्मने: to the supreme Self
• परमात्मने: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः

• हिरण्यमूर्तये: to the golden-formed one
• हिरण्यमूर्तये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्य + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (हिरण्या मूर्तिः)

• तुभ्यम्: to you
• तुभ्यम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• सहस्राक्षाय: to the thousand-eyed one
• सहस्राक्षाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (सहस्रम् अक्षीणि यस्य)

• वेधसे: to the creator; ordainer
• वेधसे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेधस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

Speaker

A devotee/sage offering a stuti (hymn of salutation) within the Purva-bhaga narrative frame

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Paramatman

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the highest object of worship as Paramātman—Brahman itself—presented as the supreme reality beyond the gods, implying the ultimate divine principle is the inner and cosmic Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports dhyāna through a stuti-based focus: contemplating the Lord as all-seeing (sahasrākṣa) and as the radiant inner ruler (hiraṇyamūrti), a classic aid for one-pointed concentration and theistic meditation.

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

By addressing the Supreme as Brahman/Paramātman rather than a sectarian deity-name, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthesizing tendency: the ultimate reality transcends and includes the forms revered by both Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions.