Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

तेषां लिङ्गान्महादेवः प्रादुरासीत् त्रिलोचनः / रक्षणार्थं द्विजश्रेष्ठा भक्तानां भक्तवत्सलः

Transliteration

teṣāṃ liṅgānmahādevaḥ prādurāsīt trilocanaḥ / rakṣaṇārthaṃ dvijaśreṣṭhā bhaktānāṃ bhaktavatsalaḥ

Translation

Wahai yang terbaik di antara para dvija, dari liṅga mereka Mahādeva yang bermata tiga menampakkan diri demi perlindungan, sebab Ia bhaktavatsala—penuh kasih kepada para pemuja-Nya.

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• लिङ्गात्: from the liṅga
• लिङ्गात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• महादेवः: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक: महा + देव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (great god)

• प्रादुरासीत्: appeared
• प्रादुरासीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु) + प्रादुर् (अव्यय/उपपद)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; प्रादुर्-भावे (appeared/manifested)

• त्रिलोचनः: the three-eyed one
• त्रिलोचनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्य त्रयः लोचनानि सः)

• रक्षणार्थम्: for protection
• रक्षणार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रक्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् (for the sake of protection)

• द्विजश्रेष्ठाः: O best of the twice-born
• द्विजश्रेष्ठाः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधनार्थे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (द्विजानां श्रेष्ठाः = best of the twice-born)

• भक्तानाम्: of devotees
• भक्तानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• भक्तवत्सलः: devotee-loving
• भक्तवत्सलः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भक्तेषु वत्सलः = affectionate to devotees)

Speaker

Primary narrator (Purāṇic narration to the sages)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Mahadeva
• Shiva
• Trilocana
• Linga
• Bhaktas (devotees)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the Supreme as personally responsive—manifesting for protection—showing that the transcendent Lord also becomes accessible through devotion (bhakti) without diminishing his divine sovereignty.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds bhakti as a practical spiritual discipline: steadfast worship centered on the liṅga, cultivating surrender and single-pointed devotion that aligns with Purāṇic yoga as devotion-supported inner steadiness.

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

By presenting Śiva as the compassionate protector who responds to devotion, it supports the Kurma Purana’s broader harmony where sectarian forms serve the same supreme, devotionally approachable reality.