Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 93

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

ये ऽर्चयन्ति सदा लिङ्गं त्यक्त्वा भोगानशेषतः / एकेन जन्मना तेषां ददामि परमैश्वरम्

Transliteration

ye 'rcayanti sadā liṅgaṃ tyaktvā bhogānaśeṣataḥ / ekena janmanā teṣāṃ dadāmi paramaiśvaram

Translation

あらゆる世の享楽をことごとく捨て、常にリンガを礼拝する者には――ただ一生のうちに――我は最高の主権、イーシュヴァラの最上位を授ける。

Word by Word

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; सम्बन्धबोधक-सर्वनाम

• अर्चयन्ति: worship
• अर्चयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• लिङ्गम्: the liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्यक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तः (gerund): having abandoned

• भोगान्: enjoyments
• भोगान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• अशेषतः: completely
• अशेषतः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (adverb): entirely

• एकेन: by one
• एकेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचनम्; जन्मना इति सह (with one)

• जन्मना: by (a single) birth
• जन्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), बहुवचनम्

• ददामि: I give
• ददामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), परस्मैपदम्, उत्तम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• परम-ऐश्वरम्: supreme lordship
• परम-ऐश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ऐश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (परमम् ऐश्वरम्)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) teaching the Īśvara-gītā in a Śaiva-Vaiṣṇava synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kūrma (Viṣṇu)
• Śiva
• Liṅga
• Īśvara
• Pāśupata (implied)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the highest realization as “paramaiśvara”—a supreme state of divine sovereignty granted through single-pointed worship and total renunciation, implying liberation as union with (or attainment of) Īśvara rather than mere heavenly enjoyment.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes sustained upāsanā (continuous worship) of the Liṅga supported by complete vairāgya (renunciation of bhoga). In the Īśvara-gītā’s Pāśupata-oriented frame, this indicates disciplined devotion and detachment as the direct means to the highest fruit.

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

Viṣṇu as Lord Kūrma proclaims the fruit of Liṅga-worship, affirming a non-sectarian synthesis where Śiva’s emblem (Liṅga) is upheld within Viṣṇu’s own teaching as a direct path to the supreme state.