Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 14

Yati-Āśrama: Bhikṣā-vidhi, Īśvara-dhyāna, and Prāyaścitta

Mahādeva as Non-dual Brahman

Devanagari script

महान्तं परमं ब्रह्म पुरुषं सत्यमव्ययम् / सितेतरारुणाकारं महेशं विश्वरूपिणम्

Transliteration

mahāntaṃ paramaṃ brahma puruṣaṃ satyamavyayam / sitetarāruṇākāraṃ maheśaṃ viśvarūpiṇam

Translation

I worship the Great One—the Supreme Brahman, the transcendent Puruṣa—Truth itself and imperishable; Mahēśa, radiant as white and also as ruddy, who bears the form of the entire universe.

Word by Word

• महान्तम्: great
• महान्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (ब्रह्म इति नपुंसकस्य विशेषणम्)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पुरुषम्: the Person (Puruṣa)
• पुरुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सत्यम्: true
• सत्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (पुरुषम्/ब्रह्म इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• अव्ययम्: imperishable
• अव्ययम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (सत्यम् इत्यादि-विशेषण-समूहः)

• सितेतरारुणाकारम्: having a form of white and reddish hues
• सितेतरारुणाकारम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित + इतर + अरुण + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सित-इतर-अरुण-आकार = having a form of white/other/rosy hues; i.e., variegated)

• महेशम्: Mahēśa (Great Lord)
• महेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विश्वरूपिणम्: universal-formed
• विश्वरूपिणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (विश्व-रूपिन् = having the universe as form)

Speaker

Narratorial/Devotional voice within the chapter’s eulogy (stuti) to Maheshvara

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Maheshvara (Shiva)
• Brahman
• Purusha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as “parama brahma” and “puruṣa,” defined by satya (ultimate reality) and avyaya (imperishability), implying the highest Self is changeless truth and the ground of all existence.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports īśvara-dhyāna: contemplation of the Supreme as Brahman-Puruṣa and as viśvarūpa (cosmic form), a theistic non-dual meditation aligned with Pāśupata-oriented devotion and jñāna.

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

By naming Mahēśa as “parama brahma” and “puruṣa,” it frames Shiva in the same highest metaphysical language often used for Vishnu, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s integrative Shaiva–Vaishnava theology.