Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

तमुवाच भयाविष्टो राजा रुद्रपरायणः / एकमीशार्चनरतं विहायान्यं निषूदय

Transliteration

tamuvāca bhayāviṣṭo rājā rudraparāyaṇaḥ / ekamīśārcanarataṃ vihāyānyaṃ niṣūdaya

Translation

恐れに包まれ、ルドラに一心に帰依する王は言った。「主の礼拝に没頭する者はお赦しください。もう一人を討ってください。」

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• bhayāviṣṭaḥ: overcome by fear
• bhayāviṣṭaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + āviṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष: भयेन आविष्टः); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (राजा)

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचनम्

• rudraparāyaṇaḥ: devoted to Rudra
• rudraparāyaṇaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक) + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: रुद्रे परायणः/रुद्रस्य परायणः); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (राजा)

• ekam: one (person)
• ekam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (नरम्/जनम् implied)

• īśārcanarātam: engaged in worship of the Lord
• īśārcanarātam: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक) + arcana (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध: ईशस्य अर्चने रतः); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (एकम्)

• vihāya: having left (aside)
• vihāya: Kriya (क्रिया/Non-finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi+hā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); धातु: हा (3P) उपसर्ग: वि

• anyam: another (person)
• anyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (जनम् implied)

• niṣūdaya: kill, destroy
• niṣūdaya: Kriya (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni+ṣūd (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्; उपसर्ग: नि

Speaker

The king (a Rudra-devotee)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Isha (Īśa)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes devotion to Īśa (the Lord) as the highest orientation, implying that alignment with the Supreme is recognized as spiritually weighty and worthy of protection.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights īśārcana (worship of the Lord) as a central discipline—an outward bhakti-practice that, in Kurma Purana’s Shaiva framework, supports inner steadiness akin to devotional yoga.

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

By using the title Īśa while describing a Rudra-devoted king, the verse reflects the Purana’s tendency to treat divine lordship as a shared, synthesizing principle—supporting Shaiva devotion without denying broader theistic unity.