Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 49

Kali-yuga Doṣas, the Supremacy of Rudra as Refuge, and the Closure of the Manvantara Teaching

Devanagari script

नीलकण्ठं विश्वमूर्ति व्यापिनं विश्वरेतसम् / कालाग्निं कालदहनं कामदं कामनाशनम्

Transliteration

nīlakaṇṭhaṃ viśvamūrti vyāpinaṃ viśvaretasam / kālāgniṃ kāladahanaṃ kāmadaṃ kāmanāśanam

Translation

Verehrung dem Blaukehligen Herrn, dessen Gestalt der Kosmos selbst ist—allgegenwärtig, der Same des Universums; dem Feuer der Zeit, das die Zeit verzehrt; dem Spender der ersehnten Gaben und dem Vernichter des Begehrens selbst.

Word by Word

• nīlakaṇṭham: the blue-throated one (Śiva)
• nīlakaṇṭham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīla + kaṇṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय-समासः (नीलः कण्ठः यस्य)

• viśvamūrti: the one whose form is the universe
• viśvamūrti: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva + mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारय-समासः (विश्वा मूर्तिः)

• vyāpinam: all-pervading
• vyāpinam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyāpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; विशेषणम् (qualifying the deity)

• viśvaretasam: whose seed/virility is universal
• viśvaretasam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva + retas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विश्वस्य रेतः)

• kālāgnim: the fire of Time (cosmic fire)
• kālāgnim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla + agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कालस्य अग्निः)

• kāladahanam: the burner/consumer as Time
• kāladahanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla + dahana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कालस्य दहनम्/दहनः)

• kāmadam: giver of desires/boons
• kāmadam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma + da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (कामं ददाति इति)

• kāmanāśanam: destroyer of desire
• kāmanāśanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma + nāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कामस्य नाशनम्)

Speaker

A devotee-narrator within the Purāṇic discourse (stuti section) praising the Supreme Lord with Śaiva-Vaiṣṇava epithets

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Nilakantha epithet)
• Ishvara (Supreme Lord)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It portrays the Supreme as simultaneously immanent (the universe as His body, all-pervading) and transcendent (the one who even consumes Time), indicating an Atman/Ishvara beyond temporal limitation yet present in all forms.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The pairing of “kāmadam” and “kāmanāśanam” implies the yogic progression from seeking lawful aims to attaining vairāgya: the Lord grants boons but ultimately uproots craving, aligning with Pāśupata-style inner purification and desire-transcendence.

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

By praising the Supreme with distinctly Śaiva titles (Nīlakaṇṭha, Kālāgni) in a Purāṇic setting that also upholds Vaiṣṇava theology, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where one Ishvara is celebrated through both Śiva and Viṣṇu idioms.