Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

ओङ्कारमूर्तये तुभ्यं तदन्तः संस्थिताय च / नमस्ते व्योमसंस्थाय व्योमशक्त्यै नमो नमः

Transliteration

oṅkāramūrtaye tubhyaṃ tadantaḥ saṃsthitāya ca / namaste vyomasaṃsthāya vyomaśaktyai namo namaḥ

Translation

聖音「オーム（Oṃ）」を御姿とし、その内に安住する汝に礼拝する。虚空（ヴ्योーマ）に住する汝に礼拝し、虚空のシャクティ、遍満する汝の力に幾度も礼拝し奉る。

Word by Word

• ओङ्कारमूर्तये: to the form of Oṃkāra
• ओङ्कारमूर्तये: सम्प्रदान (Sampradana/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओङ्कार + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; dative singular feminine

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

• तद्: that
• तद्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), एकवचन; neuter nominative singular (used as qualifier in compound)

• अन्तः: within
• अन्तः: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्तर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘within/inside’)

• संस्थिताय: to the one situated
• संस्थिताय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradana/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + स्था (धातु) → संस्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; dative singular masculine; ‘to the one who is situated’

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

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

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

• व्योमसंस्थाय: to the one abiding in the sky/space
• व्योमसंस्थाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradana/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्योम + संस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; dative singular masculine; विशेषण (adjectival)

• व्योमशक्त्यै: to the power of space
• व्योमशक्त्यै: सम्प्रदान (Sampradana/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्योम + शक्ति (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

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

Speaker

A devotee/sage reciting a stuti within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis context (invocation to the Supreme as Oṃ and Vyoma-Śakti)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Omkara (Oṃ)
• Vyoma (Ether/Space)
• Śakti (Divine Power)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as both the symbol Oṃ and the indwelling reality within it—implying the Atman/Ishvara is subtle, all-pervading, and apprehended through sacred sound and inner contemplation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Oṃ-upāsanā (meditation on Oṃ) and vyoma-dhyāna (contemplation of space as a symbol of the formless, pervasive Absolute), aligning with Purāṇic yogic methods that move from symbol to the transcendent.

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

By praising the Supreme through universal categories—Oṃ, vyoma, and śakti—it reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian stance where the one Ishvara is approached through both Shaiva (śakti, īśvara) and Vaishnava (the Supreme Lord) idioms.