Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

Oṅkāra-Liṅga and the Secret Pañcāyatana Liṅgas of Kāśī: Kṛttivāseśvara-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

संस्मरेदैश्वरं लिङ्गं पञ्चायतनमव्ययम् / देहान्ते तत्परं ज्योतिरानन्दं विशते बुधः

Transliteration

saṃsmaredaiśvaraṃ liṅgaṃ pañcāyatanamavyayam / dehānte tatparaṃ jyotirānandaṃ viśate budhaḥ

Translation

Der Weise gedenke unablässig des Liṅga des Herrn Īśvara — des unvergänglichen Pañcāyatana. Am Ende des Leibes, ganz Ihm hingegeben, tritt er ein in das strahlende Licht, das Wonne (Ānanda) ist.

Word by Word

• संस्मरेत्: should remember/meditate upon
• संस्मरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/Potential), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• ऐश्वरम्: divine, lordly
• ऐश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular); विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• लिङ्गम्: (Śiva-)liṅga, emblem
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• पञ्च-आयतनम्: having five abodes/altars
• पञ्च-आयतनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular); द्विगुसमासः (numerical compound)

• अव्ययम्: imperishable
• अव्ययम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular); विशेषणम्

• देह-अन्ते: at the end of the body (at death)
• देह-अन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी (locative), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative: 'of the body' + 'end')

• तत्-परम्: intent on that (devoted to Him)
• तत्-परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुषः (determinative: 'devoted to that')

• ज्योतिः: light, radiance
• ज्योतिः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• आनन्दम्: bliss
• आनन्दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• विशते: enters, attains
• विशते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+शि (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• बुधः: the wise person
• बुधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing Indradyumna and the sages on Śaiva-Vaiṣṇava synthesis through Īśvara-upāsanā

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Īśvara
• Liṅga
• Pañcāyatana
• Jyotis
• Ānanda

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as “jyotis” (pure radiance) and “ānanda” (bliss), implying liberation is realization/entry into an imperishable luminous consciousness rather than a merely worldly heaven.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The practice is sustained smaraṇa (remembrance) and upāsanā (devotional contemplation) of Īśvara through the liṅga and Pañcāyatana framework, culminating in single-pointedness (tatparatā) at life’s end—an inner discipline aligned with Pāśupata-oriented devotion and meditative absorption.

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

By having Lord Kūrma teach meditation on the Īśvara-liṅga leading to the highest blissful Light, the text frames Śaiva symbolism (liṅga/Īśvara) as fully compatible with Vaiṣṇava revelation—supporting a non-sectarian, synthesizing theology.