Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 97

Daily Duties of Brāhmaṇas: Snāna, Sandhyā, Sūrya-hṛdaya, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and the Pañca-mahāyajñas

Devanagari script

मन्त्रेण रुद्रागायत्र्या प्रणवेनाथ वा पुनः / ईशानेनाथ वा रुद्रैस्त्र्यम्बकेन समाहितः

Transliteration

mantreṇa rudrāgāyatryā praṇavenātha vā punaḥ / īśānenātha vā rudraistryambakena samāhitaḥ

Translation

અંતર્મુખ સમાહિત થઈ રુદ્રગાયત્રી મંત્રથી, અથવા પ્રણવ ‘ઓં’થી, અથવા ઈશાન મંત્રથી, અથવા રુદ્ર-નામ/મંત્રોથી—વિશેષે ત્ર્યંબક મંત્રથી—ધ્યાનમાં લીન થવું.

Word by Word

• मन्त्रेण: by a mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• रुद्रगायत्र्या: by the Rudra-Gāyatrī (mantra)
• रुद्रगायत्र्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्रगायत्री (प्रातिपदिक; रुद्र + गायत्री)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• प्रणवेन: by the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• अथ: then/also
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/विकल्पसूचक (particle: then/also)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle: or)

• पुनः: again, further
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति/पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक (adverb: again/further)

• ईशानेन: by (the mantra/name) Īśāna
• ईशानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• अथ: then/also
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प/अनुक्रमसूचक (particle)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• रुद्रैः: by Rudras / by Rudra-(mantras)
• रुद्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• त्र्यम्बकेन: by (the mantra/name) Tryambaka
• त्र्यम्बकेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्र्यम्बक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• समाहितः: being concentrated/composed
• समाहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-धा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (nom. sg.); अर्थ: एकाग्र/स्थितचित्त (collected, composed)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on Shaiva-oriented mantra-yoga within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Rudra-Gayatri
• Pranava (Om)
• Ishana
• Tryambaka

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting Praṇava (Oṁ) alongside Rudra-mantras as valid supports for samādhāna (inner collectedness), the verse implies a single supreme reality approached through different sacred designations—pointing to the non-sectarian, unified ground of the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-japa leading to samāhita (concentration/absorption): repetition and contemplation of Rudra-Gāyatrī, Oṁ (Praṇava), Īśāna, and Tryambaka as dhyāna-supports that steady the mind and mature into samādhi.

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

Vishnu (as Kurma) recommends Rudra-centered mantras as direct means to absorption, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis where devotion and yogic realization are not restricted by sectarian boundaries.