Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 90

Narmadā–Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Sequence of Sacred Fords and Their Fruits

Devanagari script

सर्वाभरणसंयुक्तः सर्वदेवनमस्कृतः / शिवतुल्यबलो भूत्वा शिववत् क्रीडते चिरम्

Transliteration

sarvābharaṇasaṃyuktaḥ sarvadevanamaskṛtaḥ / śivatulyabalo bhūtvā śivavat krīḍate ciram

Translation

वह समस्त आभूषणों से युक्त, समस्त देवताओं द्वारा सम्मानित होता है; शिव के तुल्य बल पाकर, शिववत् दीर्घकाल तक दिव्य क्रीड़ा करता है।

Word by Word

• sarva-ābharaṇa-saṃyuktaḥ: adorned with all ornaments
• sarva-ābharaṇa-saṃyuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + ābharaṇa + saṃyukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—‘सर्वैः आभरणैः संयुक्तः’

• sarva-deva-namaskṛtaḥ: revered by all gods
• sarva-deva-namaskṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + deva + namaskṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुषः—‘सर्वदेवैः नमस्कृतः’ (worshipped by all gods)

• śiva-tulya-balaḥ: having strength equal to Śiva
• śiva-tulya-balaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva + tulya + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः—‘शिवतुल्यं बलं यस्य’ (having strength equal to Śiva)

• bhūtvā: having become
• bhūtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive), ‘भूत्वा’ = having become

• śiva-vat: like Śiva
• śiva-vat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śiva + vat (अव्यय-तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय, तद्धितान्त-उपमानवाचक (adverbial: ‘like Śiva’)

• krīḍate: sports/plays
• krīḍate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: krīḍ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• ciram: for a long time
• ciram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cira (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावप्रयोग)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (accusative used adverbially), कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (for a long time)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in a Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It portrays liberation as sharing in Śiva-like power and freedom—an Atman-centered state where the realized being participates in divine glory rather than remaining bound by limitation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to the fruition of Pāśupata-oriented discipline—purification, devotion, and alignment with Īśvara—culminating in divine empowerment and liberated “play” (krīḍā) as a mark of spiritual attainment.

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

By describing a Śiva-like attainment within Kurma’s teaching, it reinforces the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: Vishnu (as Kurma) validates Shiva’s supreme status and presents Shiva-likeness as a legitimate goal of liberation.