Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 121

Prāyaścitta for Theft, Forbidden Foods, Impurity, and Ritual Lapses; Tīrtha–Vrata Remedies; Pativratā Mahātmyam via Sītā and Agni

Devanagari script

प्रपद्ये शरणं रुद्रं महाग्रासं त्रिशूलिनम् / कालाग्निं योगिनामीशं भोगमोक्षफलप्रदम्

Transliteration

prapadye śaraṇaṃ rudraṃ mahāgrāsaṃ triśūlinam / kālāgniṃ yogināmīśaṃ bhogamokṣaphalapradam

Translation

我はルドラに帰依する—大いなる呑み尽くす者、三叉戟を執る者。時の火そのもの、ヨーギンの主にして、享楽と解脱（モークシャ）の果を授け給う御方。

Word by Word

• प्रपद्ये: I take refuge
• प्रपद्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √पद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम् (I take refuge)

• शरणम्: as refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् ‘शरणं (गत्वा)’ (as refuge)

• रुद्रम्: Rudra
• रुद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• महā-ग्रासम्: the great devourer
• महā-ग्रासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महā (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘महान् ग्रासः’ (great devourer)

• त्रि-शूलिनम्: the trident-bearer
• त्रि-शूलिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + शूलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘त्रिशूलं अस्य अस्ति’ (trident-bearer)

• काल-अग्निम्: the fire of Time
• काल-अग्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘कालरूपोऽग्निः’/‘कालस्य अग्निः’ (fire of time)

• योगिनाम्: of yogins
• योगिनाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (of yogins)

• ईशम्: the lord
• ईशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘ईश’ = lord

• भोग-मोक्ष-फल-प्रदम्: giver of the fruits of enjoyment and liberation
• भोग-मोक्ष-फल-प्रदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘भोगस्य मोक्षस्य च फलानि प्रददाति’ (giver of fruits of enjoyment and liberation)

Speaker

A devotee/narrator within the Kurma Purana’s Śaiva praise context (stotra-style invocation to Rudra)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva
• Trishula
• Kālāgni
• Yogins

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By identifying Rudra as Kālāgni (the cosmic Time-fire) and as the all-consuming Lord, the verse points to the Supreme as the power that transcends and dissolves all finite identities—implying an ultimate reality beyond change, which yogins realize as the highest Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes śaraṇāgati (surrender) and Rudra-bhakti oriented toward yogic realization: taking refuge in the “Lord of yogins” implies disciplined inner practice culminating in mokṣa, while still acknowledging dharmic life that may include bhoga under divine governance.

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

In the Kurma Purana’s synthesizing voice, Rudra is praised as the supreme bestower of both bhoga and mokṣa—functions often associated with Īśvara—supporting the Purāṇic non-sectarian frame where Śiva-Viṣṇu unity is affirmed through shared sovereignty and salvific power.