Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 13

Rudrakoṭi, Madhuvana, Puṣpanagarī, and Kālañjara — Śveta’s Bhakti and the Subjugation of Kāla

Devanagari script

संस्थाप्य विधिना लिङ्गं भक्तियोगपुरः सरः / जजाप रुद्रमनिशं तत्र संन्यस्तमानसः

Transliteration

saṃsthāpya vidhinā liṅgaṃ bhaktiyogapuraḥ saraḥ / jajāpa rudramaniśaṃ tatra saṃnyastamānasaḥ

Translation

定められた作法に従ってリンガを安置すると、バクティ・ヨーガによって名高いその湖のほとりで、彼は心をすべて委ねて主に定め、絶え間なくルドラのマントラをジャパし続けた。

Word by Word

• संस्थाप्य: having स्थापित/installed
• संस्थाप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having स्थापित/established’

• विधिना: by proper procedure
• विधिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; ‘according to rule/with proper rite’

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Śiva-liṅga

• भक्तियोगपुरः: placing devotion-yoga foremost
• भक्तियोगपुरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरस्/पुरः (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः—‘भक्तियोगं पुरः कृत्वा’ (with devotion-yoga in front/foremost)

• सरः: (he) the ascetic/one (contextual subject)
• सरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सरस्-शब्दः), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; here as subject with masculine-looking form ‘saraḥ’

• जजाप: chanted
• जजाप: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• रुद्रम्: Rudra (mantra/name)
• रुद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; object of chanting (Rudra-mantra)

• अनिशम्: unceasingly
• अनिशम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनिशम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-अव्यय (continually)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (there)

• संन्यस्तमानसः: whose mind was renounced/withdrawn
• संन्यस्तमानसः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संन्यस्त (कृदन्त; सम्+नि+अस्/न्यस्) + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘संन्यस्तं मानसं यस्य सः’

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the devotee’s observance within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Śiva-liṅga
• Bhakti-yoga

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By stressing saṃnyasta-mānasaḥ (a mind surrendered and fixed), the verse points to inner absorption: realization is approached not merely by outer rite, but by inward renunciation and one-pointedness where the self is aligned with the Lord as the indwelling reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights bhakti-yoga expressed through liṅga-pratiṣṭhā (ritual installation) and continuous Rudra-japa (aniśaṃ), joined with mental surrender (saṃnyasta-mānasaḥ). This is a Kurma Purana-style integration of devotion, mantra, and disciplined concentration akin to Pāśupata-oriented observance.

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

In the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology, devotion to Rudra through mantra and liṅga worship functions as a valid path within a broader Vaiṣṇava frame; the verse supports practical unity by presenting Śiva-worship as an authentic yogic means to the same Supreme.