Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 85

Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion

Devanagari script

अन्तर्धानं च रुद्रस्य तपश्चर्याण्डजस्य च / दर्शनं देवदेवस्य नरनारीशरीरता

Transliteration

antardhānaṃ ca rudrasya tapaścaryāṇḍajasya ca / darśanaṃ devadevasya naranārīśarīratā

Translation

यहाँ रुद्र के अन्तर्धान का, और तपस्या से उत्पन्न हुए (अण्डज) के भी अन्तर्धान का वर्णन है; तथा देवदेव के दर्शन का—जो नर-नारी दोनों देह रूप में प्रकट हुए।

Word by Word

• अन्तर्धानम्: disappearance/vanishing
• अन्तर्धानम्: Karta (कर्ता/विषयः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर्धान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• रुद्रस्य: of Rudra
• रुद्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• तपः-चर्या: practice of austerity
• तपः-चर्या: Karta (कर्ता/विषयः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + चर्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तपसः चर्या)

• अण्डजस्य: of the egg-born (one)
• अण्डजस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अण्डज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• दर्शनम्: vision/appearance
• दर्शनम्: Karta (कर्ता/विषयः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• देव-देवस्य: of the God of gods
• देव-देवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः

• नर-नारी-शरीरता: being in a male-and-female body (androgynous form)
• नर-नारी-शरीरता: Karta (कर्ता/विषयः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + नारी (प्रातिपदिक) + शरीरता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नरनारीयोः शरीरता = having the form/body of man and woman)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic sūta-style narration within the Kurma Purana’s chapter flow)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Devadeva (Shiva)
• Ardhanarishvara (Nara-Nari Sharirata)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting Devadeva as simultaneously male-and-female, the verse points to the Supreme as transcending dualities (gender and other opposites) while appearing in forms for revelation (darśana).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Tapas (austerity) is foregrounded as a yogic means that culminates in antardhāna (withdrawal/inner absorption) and finally darśana—direct spiritual vision—echoing Pāśupata-style emphasis on disciplined practice leading to revelation.

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

The verse centers on Śiva (Rudra/Devadeva) as the goal of darśana, and within the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis this supports a non-sectarian reading where the Supreme is approached through complementary Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava frames rather than rivalry.