Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī

Devanagari script

तस्मादिहैव देवेशं तपस्तप्त्वा महेश्वरम् / द्रष्टुमर्हसि विश्वेशमुग्रं भीमं कपर्दिनम्

Transliteration

tasmādihaiva deveśaṃ tapastaptvā maheśvaram / draṣṭumarhasi viśveśamugraṃ bhīmaṃ kapardinam

Translation

ゆえに、まさにこの地で、神々の主マハーデーヴァのために苦行と修行の規律を修めれば、汝は宇宙の主を拝するにふさわしい—猛々しく畏るべき、結髪のカパルディン（シヴァ）を。

Word by Word

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (ablative), एकवचन; ‘therefore/from that’

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphasis)

• deveśam: Lord of gods
• deveśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deveśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः देवानाम् ईशः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (object of taptvā)

• taptvā: having performed
• taptvā: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tap (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), ‘having performed’

• maheśvaram: Maheśvara (Śiva)
• maheśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः महा+ईश्वर

• draṣṭum: to see
• draṣṭum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (infinitive), ‘to see’

• arhasi: you are fit/you should
• arhasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• viśveśam: Lord of the universe
• viśveśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśveśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः विश्वस्य ईशः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• ugram: fierce
• ugram: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ugra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of viśveśam/kapardinam)

• bhīmam: terrible
• bhīmam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• kapardinam: Kapardin (matted-haired Śiva)
• kapardinam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapardin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; शिवविशेषण (one with matted hair)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking (instructional narration within the Purva-bhaga)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Maheshvara
• Shiva
• Devesha
• Vishvesha
• Kapardin

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as īśvara—“Lord of gods” and “Lord of the universe”—knowable through direct vision (darśana) when one is purified by tapas, implying realization is experiential rather than merely conceptual.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Tapas (austerity/discipline) is emphasized as a purificatory limb aligned with Pāśupata-oriented sādhana: sustained self-restraint, endurance, and focused devotion culminating in darśana of Mahādeva.

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

With Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) directing the aspirant toward Śiva as Viśveśa, it reflects the Purāṇic synthesis where devotion to one Supreme Lord supports realization of the other—unity in function and ultimate divinity.