Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54
Virocana–Bali, Aditi’s Tapas, and the Vāmana–Trivikrama Episode
आक्रम्य लोकत्रयमीशपादः प्राजापत्याद् ब्रह्मलोकं जगाम / प्रणेमुरादित्यसहस्त्रकल्पं ये तत्र लोके निवसन्ति सिद्धाः
ākramya lokatrayamīśapādaḥ prājāpatyād brahmalokaṃ jagāma / praṇemurādityasahastrakalpaṃ ye tatra loke nivasanti siddhāḥ
Having traversed the three worlds, the Lord—whose feet are sovereign—went from the realm of Prajāpati to Brahmā’s world. There the Siddhas dwelling in that realm bowed to Him, the Eternal One, radiant as a thousand suns and measured in age by cosmic kalpas.
Purāṇic narrator (Sūta/Ṛṣi narration in the Kurma Purana’s storyline context)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
By portraying Īśa as transcending the three worlds and being revered even in Brahmaloka, the verse implies a Supreme reality beyond ordinary cosmic hierarchy—one whom even perfected Siddhas recognize as higher than all lokas.
The verse foregrounds the Siddhas—beings perfected through tapas, dhyāna, and yogic accomplishment—whose defining act here is praṇāma (reverent surrender). In Kurma Purana’s spiritual tone, yogic attainment culminates in devotion and recognition of Īśvara’s supremacy.
Using the broad title Īśa and emphasizing the Lord’s supremacy acknowledged by Siddhas, the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology: the highest Lord (Īśvara) is one, approached through Shaiva-Vaishnava idioms without contradiction.