Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 122

Prāyaścitta for Theft, Forbidden Foods, Impurity, and Ritual Lapses; Tīrtha–Vrata Remedies; Pativratā Mahātmyam via Sītā and Agni

Devanagari script

प्रपद्ये त्वां विरूपाक्षं भुर्भुवः स्वः स्वरूपिणम् / हिरण्यमये गृहे गुप्तं महान्तममितौजसम्

Transliteration

prapadye tvāṃ virūpākṣaṃ bhurbhuvaḥ svaḥ svarūpiṇam / hiraṇyamaye gṛhe guptaṃ mahāntamamitaujasam

Translation

હે વિરূপાક્ષ, હું તને શરણ ગ્રહણ કરું છું—ભૂઃ, ભુવઃ, સ્વઃ—ત્રિલોક જ તારો સ્વરૂપ છે; સુવર્ણમય ગૃહમાં (પ્રકાશિત હૃદયમાં) ગુપ્ત, તું મહાન અને અમિત તેજવાળો છે।

Word by Word

• प्रपद्ये: I take refuge
• प्रपद्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √पद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (you)

• वि-रूप-अक्षम्: the odd-/many-eyed (Virūpākṣa)
• वि-रूप-अक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘विरूपे अक्षिणी यस्य’ (one whose eyes are of diverse form)

• भुः: earth
• भुः: Apposition/Qualifier (विशेषण-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (earth)

• भुवः: mid-region
• भुवः: Apposition/Qualifier (विशेषण-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुवस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (mid-region/atmosphere)

• स्वः: heaven
• स्वः: Apposition/Qualifier (विशेषण-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (heaven)

• स्व-रूपिणम्: of true nature / having own form
• स्व-रूपिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘स्वरूपं अस्य अस्ति’/‘स्वरूपे स्थितः’ (having true form)

• हिरण्य-मये: in the golden
• हिरण्य-मये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिरण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘हिरण्येन मयः’ (made of gold)

• गृहे: house/dwelling
• गृहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• गुप्तम्: hidden/secret
• गुप्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √गुप् (धातु) → गुप्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘गुप्त’ = hidden/protected

• महान्तम्: great
• महान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (great)

• अमित-ओजसम्: of immeasurable strength
• अमित-ओजसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमित (प्रातिपदिक) + ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘अमितं ओजः यस्य’ (of immeasurable vigor)

Speaker

A devotee/sage offering a stuti (hymn) within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Virupaksha
• Bhuh
• Bhuvah
• Svah
• Shiva

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Lord as the very “form” of the three worlds, yet also as the hidden, inner Reality—suggesting the Supreme as both cosmic (all-pervading) and immanent (secretly present within).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to inward contemplation: the deity is “hidden in the golden abode,” a classic cue for meditating on the luminous inner seat (hṛdaya-guhā), aligning with Pashupata-style devotion joined to interiorized yoga.

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

By praising Virūpākṣa as the all-pervading Lord of the three worlds in a Purana that harmonizes sects, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian stance where the supreme reality is honored through Shaiva names without denying Vishnu’s supremacy in other frames.