Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74

Adhyāya 25 — Liṅga-māhātmya (The Chapter on the Liṅga): Hari’s Śiva-Worship and the Fiery Pillar Theophany

Devanagari script

एवं विवादे वितते मायया परमेष्ठिनः / प्रबोधार्थं परं लिङ्गं प्रादुर्भूतं शिवात्मकम्

Transliteration

evaṃ vivāde vitate māyayā parameṣṭhinaḥ / prabodhārthaṃ paraṃ liṅgaṃ prādurbhūtaṃ śivātmakam

Translation

Thus, when the dispute had spread on—through the deluding power of the Supreme Lord—the supreme Liṅga, whose very essence is Śiva, manifested in order to awaken them to the truth.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक

• विवादे: in the dispute
• विवादे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वितते: having spread/extended
• वितते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-तन् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘when (it was) spread/extended’

• मायया: by illusion/power
• मायया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परमेष्ठिनः: of the Supreme Lord (Brahmā)
• परमेष्ठिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेष्ठिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रबोधार्थम्: for the sake of awakening
• प्रबोधार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/अर्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रबोध-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी/तत्पुरुषः (प्रबोधस्य अर्थः)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लिङ्गम्: sign/mark (liṅga)
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रादुर्भूतम्: appeared
• प्रादुर्भूतम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रादुर्-भू (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘manifested/appeared’

• शिवात्मकम्: of the nature of Śiva
• शिवात्मकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव-आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (शिवः आत्मा यस्य)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) recounting the Purāṇic episode to the sages (Naimiṣāraṇya frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Parameṣṭhin (Supreme Lord)
• Shiva
• Param Linga
• Maya

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as transcendent (para) and capable of self-manifestation, using the Liṅga as a revelatory “mark” that awakens beings from māyā into recognition of the highest reality (Śiva-tattva).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes prabodha (awakening) as the spiritual aim—akin to yogic viveka (discriminative insight) that cuts through māyā; this aligns with Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Pāśupata orientation where realization, not argument, resolves bondage.

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

By attributing the event to the Supreme Lord’s māyā while declaring the manifested sign as “Śiva-essenced,” it frames sectarian rivalry as delusion and points to a unified Supreme that can be spoken of through Śiva and also as the highest Lord beyond division.