Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 184
Dakṣa’s Progeny, Nṛsiṃha–Varāha Avatāras, and Andhaka’s Defeat
Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis
ततः कालाग्निरुद्रो ऽसौ गृहीत्वान्धकमीश्वरः / त्रिशूलाग्रेषु विन्यस्य प्रननर्त सतां गतिः
tataḥ kālāgnirudro 'sau gṛhītvāndhakamīśvaraḥ / triśūlāgreṣu vinyasya prananarta satāṃ gatiḥ
Alors Kālāgnirudra—Īśvara, Śiva lui-même—saisit Andhaka, le posa sur les pointes de son trident et dansa en triomphe; Lui est le refuge et l’ultime voie des justes.
Narrator (Purāṇic narration, describing Lord Śiva/Kālāgnirudra’s act)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
By calling Rudra “satāṃ gatiḥ” (the ultimate refuge/goal of the righteous), the verse points to the Supreme as the final destination of spiritual striving—beyond fear and disorder—toward whom the sādhus ultimately move.
No explicit technique is taught in this verse; instead, it underscores the yogic ideal of taking refuge in Īśvara (īśvara-praṇidhāna)—the Lord as the “gati” of the sādhus—an orientation that later aligns with Pāśupata and Īśvara-centered disciplines in the Kurma Purāṇa.
Though the scene is overtly Śaiva (Kālāgnirudra slaying Andhaka), the Kurma Purāṇa’s broader theology often presents Īśvara as the supreme refuge of devotees across sectarian lines, supporting a synthetic vision where devotion to Śiva and devotion to the Supreme (also taught by Lord Kūrma elsewhere) converge in dharma.