Shloka 39

Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion

Devanagari script

तस्मादेकतरं भेदं समाश्रित्यापि शाश्वतम् / आराधयन्महादेवं याति तत्परमं पदम्

Transliteration

tasmādekataraṃ bhedaṃ samāśrityāpi śāśvatam / ārādhayanmahādevaṃ yāti tatparamaṃ padam

Translation

Darum erreicht selbst derjenige, der nur eine einzige dauerhafte Unterscheidung als Weg annimmt, durch die Verehrung Mahādevas den höchsten Zustand, die erhabenste Stätte.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apādāna-nibandhana (हेतु/अपादान-निबन्धन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपं, अव्ययीभूत-प्रयोगः (ablatival adverb): ‘therefore/from that’

• एकतरम्: one of the two/one among
• एकतरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भेदम्: distinction/form
• भेदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समाश्रित्य: having resorted to
• समाश्रित्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ

• शाश्वतम्: eternal
• शाश्वतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (mahādevam qualifies)

• आराधयन्: worshipping
• आराधयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-राध् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् देवः)

• याति: goes/attains
• याति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (padam qualifies)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• पदम्: state/abode
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing King Indradyumna (Iśvara-gītā style teaching within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Mahadeva (Shiva)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to a single “parama padam” (supreme state) as the final goal, implying that the highest reality is one and attainable—here emphasized through devotion to Mahādeva as a direct means to that supreme attainment.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights ārādhana (devotional worship/propitiation) as a practical discipline aligned with Pāśupata-oriented spirituality—steady, focused devotion that leads the practitioner toward liberation (the supreme state).

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

With Viṣṇu (as Lord Kūrma) recommending worship of Mahādeva for the highest goal, the Purāṇa underscores a non-sectarian unity: devotion to Śiva is affirmed as a valid—and supreme—path within a broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.