Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37

Kali-yuga Doṣas, the Supremacy of Rudra as Refuge, and the Closure of the Manvantara Teaching

Devanagari script

तस्मात् सर्वप्रयत्नेन प्राप्य माहेश्वरं युगम् / विशेषाद् ब्राह्मणो रुद्रमीशानं शरणं व्रजेत्

Transliteration

tasmāt sarvaprayatnena prāpya māheśvaraṃ yugam / viśeṣād brāhmaṇo rudramīśānaṃ śaraṇaṃ vrajet

Translation

Ainsi, de tous ses efforts, ayant atteint l’âge de Māheśvara, qu’on prenne refuge en Rudra, le Seigneur Īśāna ; et tout particulièrement le brāhmane doit aller à Lui pour y trouver abri.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb), ‘तस्मात्’ = ‘अतः/तस्माद् हेतोः’ (therefore/from that reason)

• सर्व-प्रयत्नेन: with all effort
• सर्व-प्रयत्नेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘सर्वेण प्रयत्नेन’ (with all effort)

• प्राप्य: having attained
• प्राप्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-√आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having attained/reached’

• माहेश्वरम्: Maheśvara-related
• माहेश्वरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माहेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘माहेश्वर’ = महेश्वरसम्बन्धि (pertaining to Maheśvara)

• युगम्: age/era
• युगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विशेषात्: especially
• विशेषात्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb), ‘विशेषात्’ = ‘विशेषेण/विशेषतः’ (especially)

• ब्राह्मणः: a brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रुद्रम्: Rudra
• रुद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ईशानम्: Īśāna (the Lord)
• ईशानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; रुद्रस्य विशेषणरूपेण (as epithet)

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थे द्वितीया (as goal)

• व्रजेत्: should go/seek
• व्रजेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing sages (Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis, urging refuge in Rudra/Īśāna)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Ishana
• Maheshvara
• Brahmana

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By directing seekers to take refuge in Īśāna (the sovereign Lord), the verse frames liberation as dependence on the supreme Īśvara—Rudra—who is treated as the highest refuge beyond mere ritual effort.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The practice emphasized is śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) supported by sarva-prayatna (total, disciplined endeavor), aligning with Pāśupata-oriented devotion and inner surrender as the decisive spiritual method.

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

With Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) himself urging refuge in Rudra-Īśāna, the text presents a non-sectarian synthesis: devotion to Śiva is endorsed within a Vaiṣṇava voice, reflecting unity of the supreme principle across names and forms.