Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 110

Adhyāya 25 — Liṅga-māhātmya (The Chapter on the Liṅga): Hari’s Śiva-Worship and the Fiery Pillar Theophany

Devanagari script

प्रणम्य शिरसा कृष्णमनुज्ञातो महामुनिः / जगाम चेप्सितं देशं देवदेवस्य शूलिनः

Transliteration

praṇamya śirasā kṛṣṇamanujñāto mahāmuniḥ / jagāma cepsitaṃ deśaṃ devadevasya śūlinaḥ

Translation

Après s’être incliné de la tête devant Kṛṣṇa et avoir reçu sa permission, le grand sage partit vers la contrée désirée : le domaine sacré du Dieu des dieux, Śūlin, le Porteur du Trident.

Word by Word

• praṇamya: having bowed
• praṇamya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + nam (नम् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having bowed’

• śirasā: with (his) head
• śirasā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• kṛṣṇam: Kṛṣṇa
• kṛṣṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• anujñātaḥ: permitted; given leave
• anujñātaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) as subject complement
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu + jñā (ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘having been permitted/authorized’

• mahāmuniḥ: the great sage
• mahāmuniḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + muni (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘great sage’

• jagāma: went
• jagāma: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्, perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Eka-vacana; parasmaipada

• ca: and
• ca: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• īpsitam: desired; wished-for
• īpsitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īpsita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective qualifying ‘deśam’

• deśam: to the place/region
• deśam: Karma (कर्म/Object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• devadevasya: of the God of gods
• devadevasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + deva (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘deva-deva’ = ‘god of gods’

• śūlinaḥ: of the trident-bearer (Śiva)
• śūlinaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūlin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; ‘one who has a trident’

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing the sage’s action within the Kurma Purana narrative frame

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa (Vishnu)
• Śiva (Śūlin, Devadeva)
• Mahāmuni (great sage)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By placing reverence to Kṛṣṇa alongside the destination identified with Śiva (Devadeva), the verse supports the Purana’s integrative theology: the supreme reality is approached through devotion that transcends sectarian division, hinting at one overarching divinity expressed through multiple forms.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds preparatory discipline rather than a technique: humility (praṇāma), obedience to spiritual authorization (anujñā), and purposeful pilgrimage to a sanctified locus—practices that align with Purāṇic sādhanā supporting Pāśupata-oriented devotion and inner purification.

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

It presents a practical unity: the sage bows to Kṛṣṇa (Vishnu) yet journeys to the realm of Śiva (Śūlin), implying complementary reverence and a non-competitive, harmonized Shaiva–Vaishnava vision typical of the Kurma Purana.