Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 108

Devadāru (Dāruvana) Forest: The Delusion of Ritual Pride, the Liṅga Crisis, and the Teaching of Jñāna–Pāśupata Yoga

Devanagari script

अन्तकान्तकृते तुभ्यं सर्वसंहरणाय च / नमो ऽस्तु नृत्यशीलाय नमो भैरवरूपिणे

Transliteration

antakāntakṛte tubhyaṃ sarvasaṃharaṇāya ca / namo 'stu nṛtyaśīlāya namo bhairavarūpiṇe

Translation

Salutations to You, the slayer of Death, and to You who bring about the dissolution of all. Homage to You who delight in the cosmic dance; homage to You who assume the form of Bhairava.

Word by Word

• अन्तक-अन्त-कृते: to the slayer of Death (Yama)
• अन्तक-अन्त-कृते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √कृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘अन्तकस्य अन्तं करोति’ (ender of Death)

• तुभ्यम्: to you
• तुभ्यम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• सर्व-संहरणाय: to the one who brings about the dissolution of all
• सर्व-संहरणाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + संहरण (प्रातिपदिक; √हृ with सम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (भाववाचक), चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘सर्वस्य संहरणम्’ (total dissolution)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

• अस्तु: let it be
• अस्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/विधिलिङ्-आदेशार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नृत्य-शीलाय: to the dance-natured one
• नृत्य-शीलाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘नृत्यं शीलं यस्य’ (whose nature is dancing)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

• भैरव-रूपिणे: to the one of Bhairava form
• भैरव-रूपिणे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैरव (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘भैरवं रूपं यस्य’ (having Bhairava-form)

Speaker

A devotee/sage reciting a stotra within the Kurma Purana’s Śaiva praise context (addressing Lord Śiva/Bhairava)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhairava
• Antaka (Yama)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying the Lord as the conqueror of Death and the agent of universal dissolution, the verse points to a reality beyond mortality and beyond all changing forms—an absolute principle that transcends time and finitude.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports bhakti-yoga and īśvara-dhyāna: meditating on the Lord as the one who ends fear (death) and as the cosmic dancer (symbol of rhythmic order and dissolution), a contemplation aligned with Pāśupata-oriented devotion and surrender.

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

In the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology, such praise of Śiva’s supreme functions (death-transcendence and pralaya) complements Vaiṣṇava cosmology rather than opposing it, reinforcing a non-sectarian vision where the one Supreme is revered through Śiva-Bhairava forms.