Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 73

Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī

Devanagari script

नमो दैवतनाथाय देवानुगतलिङ्गिने / कुमारगुरवे तुभ्यं देवदेवाय ते नमः

Transliteration

namo daivatanāthāya devānugataliṅgine / kumāragurave tubhyaṃ devadevāya te namaḥ

Translation

Ehrerbietung dem Herrn der göttlichen Wesen, dessen Liṅga von den Göttern verehrt und befolgt wird. O göttlicher Guru Kumāra, Dir—Gott der Götter—bringe ich immer wieder meinen Gruß dar.

Word by Word

• namaḥ: salutation; homage
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात (particle of salutation)

• daivata-nāthāya: to the lord of the deities
• daivata-nāthāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daivata (प्रातिपदिक) + nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (daivatānātha = 'lord of the gods')

• deva-anugata-liṅgine: to the sign-bearing one attended by the gods
• deva-anugata-liṅgine: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + anugata (कृदन्त; anu√gam गतौ, क्त) + liṅgin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः ('having the mark/sign followed by the gods' / 'bearing a sign attended by gods')

• kumāra-gurave: to the preceptor of Kumāra (Skanda)
• kumāra-gurave: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumāra (प्रातिपदिक) + guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (kumāraguru = 'teacher of Kumāra/Skanda')

• tubhyam: to you
• tubhyam: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन

• deva-devāya: to the god of gods
• deva-devāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (devadeva = 'god of gods')

• te: of you; your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

Speaker

A devotee/narratorial voice offering a stuti (hymn) within the Purva-bhaga’s Shaiva praise context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Devanatha/Devadeva)
• Linga
• Kumara (as divine guru epithet)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By addressing the deity as Devadeva (God of gods) and the divine Guru, the verse points to a single supreme principle that is both the object of worship and the inner guide—hinting that the highest reality is the ultimate lordship behind all divine powers.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds devotion (bhakti) and guru-tattva as foundational disciplines: reverence to the deity and alignment with the guru are treated as preparatory supports for higher yogic realization, consistent with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Pashupata orientation.

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

Though explicitly Shaiva in address (Devadeva, liṅga), its placement in the Kurma Purana supports the text’s synthesis: the supreme is praised through multiple divine forms, encouraging a non-sectarian (integrative) vision where ultimate divinity is one, approached by different names and symbols.