Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 62

Sūrya-vaṃśa Genealogy and the Supremacy of Tapas: Gāyatrī-Japa, Rudra-Darśana, and Śatarudrīya Upadeśa

Devanagari script

चतुर्मुखं जटामौलिमष्टहस्तं त्रिलोचनम् / चन्द्रावयवलक्षमाणं नरनारीतनुं हरम्

Transliteration

caturmukhaṃ jaṭāmaulimaṣṭahastaṃ trilocanam / candrāvayavalakṣamāṇaṃ naranārītanuṃ haram

Translation

Il contempla Hara (Śiva) : à quatre visages, la chevelure en jata dressée en couronne, huit bras et trois yeux ; marqué de la lune en ornement ; et dont le corps était à la fois homme et femme (Ardhanārīśvara).

Word by Word

• चतुर्मुखम्: four-faced
• चतुर्मुखम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of हरम्/पुरुषम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्-मुख (प्रातिपदिक; चतुर् + मुख)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• जटामौलिम्: with matted-hair as a crown
• जटामौलिम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटा-मौलि (प्रातिपदिक; जटा + मौलि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अष्टहस्तम्: eight-handed
• अष्टहस्तम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट-हस्त (प्रातिपदिक; अष्ट + हस्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• त्रिलोचनम्: three-eyed
• त्रिलोचनम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि-लोचन (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + लोचन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• चन्द्र: of the moon
• चन्द्र: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular) (समासाङ्ग)

• अवयव: part, limb
• अवयव: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवयव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular) (समासाङ्ग)

• लक्षमाणम्: bearing/marked with
• लक्षमाणम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नरनारीतनुम्: having a body (that is) man-and-woman (Ardhanārī)
• नरनारीतनुम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नर-नारी-तनु (प्रातिपदिक; नर + नारी + तनु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• हरम्: Hara (Śiva)
• हरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; seen)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the vision of Hara within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava theological frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hara (Shiva)
• Ardhanarishvara
• Chandra (Moon)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying Hara as simultaneously many-formed (four faces, eight arms) yet a single reality, and as male-female in one body, the verse points to a non-dual Supreme that transcends ordinary categories while manifesting as all forms.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports dhyāna-yoga through sāguṇa-upāsanā: meditating on specific divine marks (three eyes, moon-crest, multiple arms) to steady the mind—an approach aligned with Pāśupata-leaning Shaiva practice as integrated in the Kurma Purana.

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

Within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, such exalted description of Hara complements Vaishnava theology by presenting Shiva as a supreme manifestation worthy of yogic contemplation, reinforcing the Purana’s tendency toward harmony rather than sectarian opposition.