Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 55

Kapālamocana: The Cutting of Brahmā’s Fifth Head, Śiva’s Kāpālika Vow, and Purification in Vārāṇasī

Devanagari script

नियन्त्रे सर्वकार्याणां क्षोभिकायै नमो नमः / नमो ऽस्तु ते प्रकृतये नमो नारायणाय च

Transliteration

niyantre sarvakāryāṇāṃ kṣobhikāyai namo namaḥ / namo 'stu te prakṛtaye namo nārāyaṇāya ca

Translation

あらゆる行為を統べる統御者に、また創造を揺り動かし起動させる聖なる力に、幾度も幾度も帰依し奉る。原初の自然プラクリティとしての汝に礼拝し、またナーラーヤナにも礼拝する。

Word by Word

• नियन्त्रे: O controller
• नियन्त्रे: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियन्त्रि/नियन्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; vocative singular masculine

• सर्वकार्याणाम्: of all actions/works
• सर्वकार्याणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; genitive plural neuter

• क्षोभिकायै: to the agitator (power)
• क्षोभिकायै: सम्प्रदान (Sampradana/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षोभिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; dative singular feminine

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बोधन-प्रयोग (Salutation expression)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात (indeclinable interjection of salutation)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बोधन-प्रयोग (Salutation expression)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात (indeclinable interjection of salutation)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बोधन-प्रयोग (Salutation expression)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात (indeclinable interjection of salutation)

• अस्तु: let it be
• अस्तु: क्रिया (Kriya/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; imperative 3rd person singular

• ते: to you
• ते: सम्प्रदान (Sampradana/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; dative singular pronoun

• प्रकृतये: to Prakṛti (Nature)
• प्रकृतये: सम्प्रदान (Sampradana/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; dative singular feminine

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बोधन-प्रयोग (Salutation expression)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात (indeclinable interjection of salutation)

• नारायणाय: to Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradana/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; dative singular masculine

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

A devotee/sage within the Kurma Purana narrative offering a stuti (hymn) to the Supreme as both Prakriti and Narayana

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Prakriti
• Narayana

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to one Supreme principle that both governs all activity (as the inner controller) and appears as the cosmic source (Prakṛti), indicating a unified reality behind both consciousness and manifestation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports contemplative Yoga that meditates on Īśvara as both the नियन्ता (inner ruler) and the cosmic power that stirs creation—useful for dhyāna on the Lord as immanent governor and transcendent refuge (Nārāyaṇa).

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

By venerating the Supreme through functional aspects—controller, creative power (Prakṛti), and Nārāyaṇa—it reflects the Kurma Purana’s inclusive theology where sectarian names point to a single Īśvara beyond divisions.