Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 154

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

Devanagari script

कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशा ज्वालामालासमावृता / स्वभाभिर्विमलाभिस्तु पूरयन्ती नभस्तलम्

Transliteration

koṭisūryapratīkāśā jvālāmālāsamāvṛtā / svabhābhirvimalābhistu pūrayantī nabhastalam

Translation

Blazing with the splendor of ten million suns, wreathed all around with garlands of flame, she—by her own stainless radiances—was filling the entire expanse of the sky.

Word by Word

• कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशा: shining like crores of suns
• कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि + सूर्य + प्रतीकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (कोटिसूर्यवत् प्रतीकाशा = having the radiance like crores of suns); स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, fem.), देवी-विशेषणम्

• ज्वालामालासमावृता: surrounded by a garland of flames
• ज्वालामालासमावृता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वाला + माला + सम्-आ-वृत (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ज्वालामालया समावृता = enveloped by a garland of flames); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• स्वभाभिः: with her own splendors
• स्वभाभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural, fem.)

• विमलाभिः: pure, spotless
• विमलाभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural, fem.), स्वभाभिः विशेषणम्

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• पूरयन्ती: filling
• पूरयन्ती: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूर् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; धातु: पूर् (to fill)

• नभस्तलम्: the sky/firmament
• नभस्तलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस् + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नभसः तलम् = surface/expanse of the sky); नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (Accusative singular, neut.)

Speaker

Narrator (Purana-style description within the dialogue framework; presented as a visionary depiction rather than direct instruction)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Divine Radiance (Tejas)
• Surya (as a simile)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying an all-pervading, stainless radiance that fills the sky, the verse points to the Atman/Ishvara as pure tejas—self-luminous consciousness that is untainted (vimala) and expansive beyond ordinary limits.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The imagery supports jyoti-dhyana (meditation on inner light): the yogin contemplates an overwhelming, flame-wreathed brilliance as a sign of concentrated mind (ekāgratā) and the awakening of spiritual tejas emphasized in Pashupata-oriented discipline.

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

Rather than naming sectarian forms, it emphasizes a single, stainless radiance—consistent with the Kurma Purana’s synthetic approach where Shiva and Vishnu are understood through one supreme, luminous reality manifesting in different modes.