Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

विभ्राजमानं वपुषा सस्तितं शुभ्रलोचनम् / चतुर्मुखं महाबाहुं छन्दोमयमजं परम्

Transliteration

vibhrājamānaṃ vapuṣā sastitaṃ śubhralocanam / caturmukhaṃ mahābāhuṃ chandomayamajaṃ param

Translation

Resplandeciente en su cuerpo, firme y bien asentado, de ojos blancos y brillantes; de cuatro rostros y poderosos brazos—(contempló) la Suprema Realidad no nacida, constituida por los chandas de los Vedas (los metros sagrados).

Word by Word

• विभ्राजमानम्: shining forth
• विभ्राजमानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-भ्राज् (धातु) → विभ्राजमान (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• वपुषा: with (his) body
• वपुषा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• सस्थितम्: standing/established
• सस्थितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु) → सस्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• शुभ्र-लोचनम्: having bright eyes
• शुभ्र-लोचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ्र + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमासः (शुभ्रं लोचनं यस्य/शुभ्रलोचनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• चतुर्-मुखम्: four-faced
• चतुर्-मुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगुसमासः (चत्वारि मुखानि यस्य); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• महा-बाहुम्: mighty-armed
• महा-बाहुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमासः (महान् बाहुः यस्य); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• छन्दः-मयम्: consisting of the Vedic meters
• छन्दः-मयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छन्दस् + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (छन्दोभिः मयम्/पूर्णम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• अजम्: unborn
• अजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रयोगः; अत्र नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (sage-level narration within the Kurma Purana’s Upari-bhaga context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vedas (Chandas)
• Param (Supreme)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as aja (unborn) and param (transcendent), indicating an ultimate Reality beyond change, while also describable through sacred revelation as chandomaya—apprehended via Vedic sound and meaning.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implies dhyāna-driven realization: a steady, well-established vision (su-sthiti) of the Divine form, where contemplation integrates form (saguṇa) with the unborn Supreme (nirguṇa) known through mantra and Vedic chandas.

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

By describing the Supreme as both transcendent (aja, param) and manifest through sacred revelation (chandomaya), it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the one Ishvara is approached through differing divine forms and theological languages without contradiction.