Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

Devī-tattva, Śakti–Śaktimān doctrine, Kāla–Māyā cosmology, and Māheśvara Yoga instruction

Devanagari script

दंष्ट्राकरालं दुर्धर्ष जटामण्डलमण्डितम् / त्रिशूलवरहस्तं च घोररूपं भयानकम्

Transliteration

daṃṣṭrākarālaṃ durdharṣa jaṭāmaṇḍalamaṇḍitam / triśūlavarahastaṃ ca ghorarūpaṃ bhayānakam

Translation

«(Il Le vit) aux crocs terribles, invincible, paré du cercle de ses jaṭā emmêlées; tenant le trident en sa main—d’une forme redoutable, terrifiante.»

Word by Word

• दंष्ट्रा-करालम्: terrible with fangs
• दंष्ट्रा-करालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daṃṣṭrā (प्रातिपदिक) + karāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘having (terrible) fangs’ / ‘fang-terrible’

• दुर्धर्षम्: hard to assail
• दुर्धर्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durdharṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जटा-मण्डल-मण्डितम्: adorned with a mass of matted locks
• जटा-मण्डल-मण्डितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jaṭā (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇḍita (प्रातिपदिक; √maṇḍ kridanta-adj)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘adorned with a circle/mass of matted hair’

• त्रिशूल-वर-हस्तम्: with a hand bearing a splendid trident
• त्रिशूल-वर-हस्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: triśūla (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘having a hand holding an excellent trident’ (instrument-in-hand sense)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• घोर-रूपम्: terrible-formed
• घोर-रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘terrible in form’

• भयानकम्: frightful
• भयानकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhayānaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator within the Ishvara Gita context (Lord Kurma’s revelation being described to the listener, traditionally King Indradyumna and/or sages)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma (Vishnu as Ishvara)
• Shiva (iconography implied by trident and matted locks)
• Ishvara (Supreme Lord)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents Ishvara as a transcendent, unassailable reality whose awe-inspiring form shatters ordinary perception—pointing to a Supreme presence beyond the limited ego-mind that yoga seeks to realize.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Ishvara-dhyana (meditation on the Lord’s form) used in Pashupata-oriented discipline: steady contemplation of Ishvara’s attributes to dissolve fear, purify the mind, and stabilize concentration toward liberation.

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

By describing the Lord with Shaiva emblems (jata and trishula) within the Ishvara Gita spoken by Kurma (a Vishnu form), it emphasizes the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: one Ishvara expressed through both Shaiva and Vaishnava symbolism.