Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī

Devanagari script

किरीटिनं गदिनं चित्रमालं पिनाकिनं शूलिनं देवदेवम् / शार्दूलचर्माम्बरसंवृताङ्गं देव्या महादेवमसौ ददर्श

Transliteration

kirīṭinaṃ gadinaṃ citramālaṃ pinākinaṃ śūlinaṃ devadevam / śārdūlacarmāmbarasaṃvṛtāṅgaṃ devyā mahādevamasau dadarśa

Translation

Il contempla Mahādeva—Dieu des dieux—couronné, tenant une massue, paré d’une guirlande merveilleuse ; brandissant le Pināka et le trident ; les membres enveloppés d’un vêtement de peau de tigre, accompagné de la Déesse.

Word by Word

• kirīṭinam: wearing a crown
• kirīṭinam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kirīṭin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); possessive adjective

• gadinam: bearing a mace
• gadinam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gadin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘having a mace’

• citramālam: with a splendid garland
• citramālam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक) + mālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: ‘wonderful/variegated garland’

• pinākinam: bearing the Pināka bow
• pinākinam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pinākin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘having Pināka (bow)’

• śūlinam: bearing a trident
• śūlinam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūlin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘having a trident’

• deva-devam: the god of gods
• deva-devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी): ‘god of gods’

• śārdūla-carma-ambara-saṃvṛta-aṅgam: whose body was covered with a tiger-skin garment
• śārdūla-carma-ambara-saṃvṛta-aṅgam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śārdūla (प्रातिपदिक) + carman (प्रातिपदिक) + ambara (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃvṛta (कृदन्त) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); bahuvrīhi: ‘whose body is covered with a tiger-skin garment’

• devyā: with the Goddess
• devyā: Sahakāraka (सहकारक) / Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahādevam: Mahādeva
• mahādevam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• asau: that one/he
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Tinganta (तिङन्त), Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration within the Kurma Purana’s Purva-bhaga context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Mahadeva (Shiva)
• Devi (Uma/Parvati)
• Pinaka
• Trishula

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling Śiva “Devadeva” and portraying him as the object of direct vision, the verse points to the Supreme as knowable through divine realization (darśana), where the transcendent reality is encountered in a manifest, grace-bestowing form.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes darśana (direct spiritual vision) rather than a technical practice-list; in the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva framework, such vision is typically associated with devotion, purity of conduct (dharma), and contemplative steadiness culminating in the Lord’s revelation.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in this śloka, the Kurma Purana’s characteristic synthesis is reflected in reverential portrayal of Śiva as “God of gods,” supporting a non-sectarian reading where supreme divinity is honored across forms—central to later Ishvara-Gita style unity teachings.