Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 75

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

Devanagari script

कालानलसमप्रख्यं ज्वालामालासमाकुलम् / क्षयवृद्धिविनिर्मुक्तमादिमध्यान्तवर्जितम्

Transliteration

kālānalasamaprakhyaṃ jvālāmālāsamākulam / kṣayavṛddhivinirmuktamādimadhyāntavarjitam

Translation

Like the fire of Time itself, blazing and wreathed in garlands of flames, it is free from decay and increase, and devoid of beginning, middle, and end.

Word by Word

• कालानलसमप्रख्यम्: resembling the fire of time (cosmic fire)
• कालानलसमप्रख्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल-अनल-सम-प्रख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-समासः (कालानलस्य समः प्रख्यः/प्रख्यम्) — उपमान-तत्पुरुषः

• ज्वालामालासमाकुलम्: filled with garlands of flames
• ज्वालामालासमाकुलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वाला-माला-समाकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (ज्वालामालाभिः समाकुलम्)

• क्षयवृद्धिविनिर्मुक्तम्: free from decay and growth
• क्षयवृद्धिविनिर्मुक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षय-वृद्धि-विनिर्मुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (क्षय-वृद्धिभ्यां विनिर्मुक्तम्)

• आदि-मध्य-अन्त-वर्जितम्: devoid of beginning, middle, and end
• आदि-मध्य-अन्त-वर्जितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि-मध्य-अन्त-वर्जित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पूर्वपदेषु द्वन्द्वः (आदि+मध्य+अन्त), ततः तत्पुरुषः (आदि-मध्य-अन्तैः वर्जितम्)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu), teaching the sages in a Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis tone

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Kala (Time)
• Anala (Fire)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It characterizes the Supreme as beginningless, endless, and untouched by change—beyond both diminution (kṣaya) and increase (vṛddhi)—indicating an unconditioned reality that transcends temporal processes.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports a contemplative Yoga in which the practitioner fixes awareness on the timeless Ishvara—visualized as radiant like the fire of Time—while discerning that the true Self/Lord is ultimately beyond all modification, thus steadying the mind in vairāgya and one-pointed meditation (dhyāna).

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

By describing a single supreme principle beyond time, growth, and decay, the Kurma Purana’s synthesis allows Shiva and Vishnu to be understood as expressions of one Ishvara—non-dual in essence though spoken of through different devotional forms.