Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 70

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

Devanagari script

चतुर्वरक्त्रं महायोगं पुरुषं काञ्चनप्रभम् / कृष्णाजिरधरं देवमृग्यजुः सामभिः स्तुतम्

Transliteration

caturvaraktraṃ mahāyogaṃ puruṣaṃ kāñcanaprabham / kṛṣṇājiradharaṃ devamṛgyajuḥ sāmabhiḥ stutam

Translation

Je médite sur ce Puruṣa divin—le grand Yogin aux quatre visages rayonnants, d’éclat d’or—revêtu d’une peau d’antilope noire, et loué par les hymnes des Veda Ṛg, Yajus et Sāma.

Word by Word

• चतुर्वक्त्रम्: four-faced
• चतुर्वक्त्रम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘puruṣam/devam’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘चत्वारि वक्त्राणि यस्य’ (four-faced)

• महायोगम्: of great yoga (mighty in yogic power)
• महायोगम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘महान् योगः’

• पुरुषम्: the Person (Puruṣa)
• पुरुषम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of ‘paśyāmi’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• काञ्चनप्रभम्: golden-radiant
• काञ्चनप्रभम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘काञ्चनी प्रभा यस्य’ (golden-lustrous)

• कृष्णाजिनधरम्: wearing a black antelope-skin
• कृष्णाजिनधरम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण + अजिन + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष—‘कृष्णाजिनं धरति’ (wearing a black antelope-skin)

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; apposition to ‘puruṣam’

• ऋग्भिः: with Ṛg (hymns)
• ऋग्भिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋच्/ऋग् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• यजुःभिः: with Yajus (formulas)
• यजुःभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यजुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• सामभिः: with Sāman (chants)
• सामभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• स्तुतम्: praised
• स्तुतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘praised’

Speaker

Narrator/reciter in a dhyāna-stuti context (Purāṇic narration describing the deity to be contemplated)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Puruṣa
• Mahāyogin
• Ṛg Veda
• Yajur Veda
• Sāma Veda

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as Puruṣa—one divine reality accessible through contemplative knowledge—whose cosmic form is affirmed by the Vedas, indicating the Self as the worship-worthy ground of all revelation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse functions as a dhyāna-stuti: a visualization for meditation on the Mahāyogin’s form (four-faced, golden, ascetic insignia like the antelope-skin) while aligning one’s mind with Vedic mantric praise—an approach consistent with Kurma Purana’s Yoga-shāstra tone and Pāśupata-oriented devotion.

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

By describing a single Mahāyogin-Puruṣa with ascetic markers often associated with Śaiva imagery yet upheld by Vedic praise central to Vaiṣṇava theology, the verse supports the Purāṇa’s non-sectarian synthesis: one Supreme Lord revered through multiple theistic idioms.