Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 60
Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī
तुष्टाव मन्त्रैरमरप्रधानं बद्धाञ्जलिर्विष्णुरुदारबुद्धिः / प्रणम्य देव्या गिरिशं सभक्त्या स्वात्मन्यथात्मानमसौ विचिन्त्य
tuṣṭāva mantrairamarapradhānaṃ baddhāñjalirviṣṇurudārabuddhiḥ / praṇamya devyā giriśaṃ sabhaktyā svātmanyathātmānamasau vicintya
Mit gefalteten Händen in Ehrfurcht pries Viṣṇu—von edlem Verstand—den Herrn, den Ersten unter den Unsterblichen, mit heiligen Mantras; und nachdem er sich in Bhakti vor Girīśa (Śiva) zusammen mit der Göttin verneigt hatte, versenkte er sich in die Betrachtung des Selbst im eigenen Selbst.
Suta (narrator) describing Vishnu’s act of praise and meditation
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It presents Atman as directly realizable through inner contemplation: Vishnu turns from outer praise (mantra and namaskara) to inward meditation, recognizing the Self within the self—an Upanishadic, non-dual emphasis compatible with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis.
The verse models a progression used in Purana-based sadhana: mantra-stuti (hymnic recitation), añjali and praṇāma (devotional submission), and then dhyāna/vicāra (contemplative inquiry) focused on the indwelling Atman—aligned with Pashupata-influenced devotion culminating in inner realization.
Vishnu worships Girisha (Shiva) with full devotion, implying reverence rather than rivalry; the shift to contemplating the same Atman within underscores the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava harmony, where sectarian forms point toward one inner Self.