Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Oṅkāra-Liṅga and the Secret Pañcāyatana Liṅgas of Kāśī: Kṛttivāseśvara-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वा ययौ कृष्णः पाराशर्यो महामुनिः / कृत्तिवासेश्वरं लिङ्गं द्रष्टुं देवस्य शूलिनः

Transliteration

evamuktvā yayau kṛṣṇaḥ pārāśaryo mahāmuniḥ / kṛttivāseśvaraṃ liṅgaṃ draṣṭuṃ devasya śūlinaḥ

Translation

Ayant ainsi parlé, le grand sage Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, fils de Parāśara, s’en alla contempler le Liṅga de Kṛttivāseśvara, du Seigneur au trident (Śiva).

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner: “thus”)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having said)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कृष्णः: Kṛṣṇa (name)
• कृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पाराशर्यः: the son/descendant of Parāśara
• पाराशर्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाराशर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; गोत्र/पितृव्युत्पन्न-नाम (descendant of Parāśara)

• महामुनिः: the great sage
• महामुनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामुनि (प्रातिपदिक: महा + मुनि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (great + sage)

• कृत्तिवासेश्वरम्: Kṛttivāseśvara (name/title)
• कृत्तिवासेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्ति + वास + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कृत्तिवासस्य ईश्वरः = lord of Kṛttivāsa)

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga (Śiva-emblem)
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• द्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + तुमुन्
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive); प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य (purpose: to see)

• देवस्य: of the god
• देवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• शूलिनः: of the trident-bearer (Śiva)
• शूलिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण देवस्य (epithet: “trident-bearer”)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic sūta/ākhayāna voice describing the sage’s actions)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa)
• Parāśara
• Śiva (Śūlin)
• Kṛttivāseśvara Liṅga

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it frames realization through darśana and devotion: the sage seeks Śiva’s liṅga, implying that the Supreme is approached via sacred presence and disciplined reverence rather than mere speculation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes tīrtha-yātrā and darśana as a devotional discipline (bhakti-aṅga) that supports inner purification—often treated in the Kurma Purana as a preparatory limb for deeper yogic steadiness and Śiva-oriented contemplation.

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

By portraying Vyāsa (a major Vaiṣṇava-linked sage) earnestly seeking Śiva’s liṅga, it reflects the Purāṇa’s integrative stance: devotion to Śiva is compatible with the broader Vaiṣṇava-Purāṇic world and supports a unified vision of īśvara.