Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 21

Rudra’s Cosmic Dance and the Recognition of Rudra–Nārāyaṇa Unity (Īśvara-gītā Continuation)

Devanagari script

ओङ्कारमुच्चार्य विलोक्य देवम् अन्तःशरीरे निहितं गुहायाम् / समस्तुवन् ब्रह्ममयैर्वचोभिर् आनन्दपूर्णायतमानसास्ते

Transliteration

oṅkāramuccārya vilokya devam antaḥśarīre nihitaṃ guhāyām / samastuvan brahmamayairvacobhir ānandapūrṇāyatamānasāste

Translation

Having uttered the syllable Oṃ and beholding the Divine—hidden within the inner body, in the cave of the heart—they praised Him with words filled with Brahman; and their minds expanded, wholly suffused with bliss.

Word by Word

• oṅkāram: the syllable Oṃ (oṅkāra)
• oṅkāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: oṅkāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• uccārya: having uttered
• uccārya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√car (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त), indeclinable verbal form; action prior to main verb

• vilokya: having beheld
• vilokya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√lok (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त), indeclinable verbal form; action prior to main verb

• devam: the God
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• antaḥśarīre: within the body
• antaḥśarīre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antaḥ-śarīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अन्तः = भीतर, शरीरस्य अन्तः)

• nihitam: placed, deposited
• nihitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-√dhā (धातु) + क्त (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying 'devam' understood as 'that which is placed'

• guhāyām: in the cave (of the heart)
• guhāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• samastuvan: they praised
• samastuvan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√stu (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, Aorist), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• brahmamayaiḥ: with Brahman-filled
• brahmamayaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahma-maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); समास: तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः मय = consisting of Brahman)

• vacobhiḥ: words, utterances
• vacobhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ānandapūrṇāyatamānasāḥ: they whose minds are expanded and full of bliss
• ānandapūrṇāyatamānasāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ānanda-pūrṇa-āyata-mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); बहुव्रीहि: 'whose minds are expanded and filled with bliss'

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); pronoun

Speaker

Narratorial voice within the Kurma Purana’s teaching context (describing the practitioners’ meditative act as taught by Lord Kurma).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Omkara (Oṃ)
• Deva (Īśvara)
• Brahman
• Guha (heart-cave)
• Antaryāmin (Indwelling Lord)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to the Supreme as the indwelling Divine hidden in the “cave” of the heart—realized through inner vision after Oṃ-recitation—showing Īśvara/Brahman as inwardly present rather than merely external.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Pranava-japa (uttering Oṃ), inward contemplative seeing (dhyāna/darśana) of the Lord in the heart, and Brahman-centered stuti (praise) that culminates in ānanda and an expanded, steady mind—features consistent with Kurma Purana’s Yoga-oriented devotion.

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

By emphasizing the one Deva as Brahman within the heart and praising Him with “Brahman-filled” speech, the verse supports the Purana’s non-sectarian, non-dual thrust: the Supreme worshipped as Īśvara transcends single-form limitation, harmonizing Shaiva and Vaishnava contemplations.