Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 14
Commencement of the Upari-bhāga: The Sages Request Brahma-vidyā; Vyāsa Recalls the Badarikā Inquiry and Śiva–Viṣṇu Theophany
श्रुत्वा सूतस्य वचनं मुनिः सत्यवतीसुतः / प्रणम्य शिरसा रुद्रं वचः प्राह सुखावहम्
śrutvā sūtasya vacanaṃ muniḥ satyavatīsutaḥ / praṇamya śirasā rudraṃ vacaḥ prāha sukhāvaham
スータの言葉を聞くと、サティヤヴァティーの子なる聖仙は、頭を垂れてルドラに礼拝し、ついで安楽と吉祥をもたらす言葉を語った。
Sage Vyasa (Satyavati-suta)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
Indirectly: by showing Vyāsa bowing to Rudra before teaching, the verse signals that true knowledge is grounded in reverence to the Supreme Lord (Īśvara) who is approached as Rudra within the Purāṇic synthesis.
The verse emphasizes the foundational discipline of bhakti and humility—praṇāma (obeisance)—as a preparatory limb that steadies the mind before higher teachings such as Pāśupata-oriented śiva-bhakti and yogic contemplation presented later in the tradition.
By placing a Rudra-salutation at the start of the teaching, the text models the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian tone: even within a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa framework, Rudra is honored as a supreme, auspicious form of Īśvara, supporting Shiva–Vishnu unity.