Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

स्तुवन्ति सततं देवं त्र्यम्बकं कृत्तिवाससम् / ध्यायन्ति हृदये देवं स्थाणुं सर्वान्तरं शिवम्

Transliteration

stuvanti satataṃ devaṃ tryambakaṃ kṛttivāsasam / dhyāyanti hṛdaye devaṃ sthāṇuṃ sarvāntaraṃ śivam

Translation

They ceaselessly praise the God—Tryambaka, the Three-Eyed One, the wearer of the hide—and within the heart they meditate on the Divine Sthāṇu: Śiva who abides as the inner presence in all.

Word by Word

• स्तुवन्ति: praise
• स्तुवन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन-द्वितीया/प्रथमा प्रयोगः; अव्ययीभूत (adverbial use)

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• त्र्यम्बकम्: Tryambaka (three-eyed)
• त्र्यम्बकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + अम्बक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी/द्विगु-समासव्याख्या प्रचलिता—‘त्रीणि अम्बकानि यस्य’ (बहुव्रीह्यर्थे नाम)

• कृत्तिवाससम्: the one clad in a hide
• कृत्तिवाससम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्ति + वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि—‘कृत्तिः वासो यस्य’

• ध्यायन्ति: meditate on
• ध्यायन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• हृदये: in the heart
• हृदये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• स्थाणुम्: Sthāṇu (the immovable one)
• स्थाणुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थाणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• सर्वान्तरम्: the inner one of all
• सर्वान्तरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘सर्वेषाम् अन्तरः/अन्तरम्’

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

Speaker

Narratorial voice (Purana narrator describing the devotees/ascetics devoted to Rudra-Shiva)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Tryambaka
• Krittivasa
• Sthanu
• Shiva

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling Śiva “sarvāntara”—the one who is within all—it points to the indwelling divine presence (antaryāmin) realized inwardly in the heart rather than merely worshipped outwardly.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights hṛdaya-dhyāna (heart-centered contemplation): sustained praise (stuti) culminating in inner meditation on the steady Lord (Sthāṇu), aligning devotion with yogic interiorization central to Pāśupata-oriented practice.

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

Though explicitly praising Śiva, the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis presents the Supreme as approachable through multiple divine forms; this verse supports the non-sectarian, inward (antaryāmin) focus that underlies Shaiva–Vaishnava unity in the text.