Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 105

Devadāru (Dāruvana) Forest: The Delusion of Ritual Pride, the Liṅga Crisis, and the Teaching of Jñāna–Pāśupata Yoga

Devanagari script

वैदिकैर्विविधैर्मन्त्रैः सूक्तैर्माहेश्वरैः शुभैः / अथर्वशिरसा चान्ये रुद्राद्यैर्ब्रह्मभिर्भवम्

Transliteration

vaidikairvividhairmantraiḥ sūktairmāheśvaraiḥ śubhaiḥ / atharvaśirasā cānye rudrādyairbrahmabhirbhavam

Translation

さまざまなヴェーダの真言と吉祥なるマハーシャイヴァの讃歌により、また他の者はアタルヴァシラスを誦して、ルドラ真言などの聖なる法句と、それに連なるブラフマン讃歌によって、バヴァ（シヴァ）を礼拝した。

Word by Word

• वैदिकैः: Vedic
• वैदिकैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैदिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of mantraiḥ/sūktaiḥ)

• विविधैः: various
• विविधैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• मन्त्रैः: with mantras
• मन्त्रैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सूक्तैः: with hymns
• सूक्तैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन

• माहेश्वरैः: pertaining to Maheśvara (Śiva)
• माहेश्वरैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माहेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of sūktaiḥ/mantraiḥ)

• शुभैः: auspicious
• शुभैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• अथर्वशिरसा: with (the text) Atharvaśiras
• अथर्वशिरसा: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अथर्वशिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन; ग्रन्थ/उपनिषद्-नाम (instrumental: 'with Atharvaśiras')

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (some) others

• रुद्राद्यैः: with (those) beginning with Rudra
• रुद्राद्यैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (rudra-ādi = 'Rudra and others'); विशेषण (of brahmabhiḥ)

• ब्रह्मभिः: with sacred formulas (brahma-mantras)
• ब्रह्मभिः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन; (here: brahma-mantras / sacred formulas)

• भवम्: Bhava (Śiva)
• भवम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; शिवनाम

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic discourse) describing the ritual praise of Śiva (Bhava)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bhava (Shiva)
• Maheśvara
• Rudra
• Vedic mantras
• Atharvaśiras

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting Bhava (Śiva) as the one approached through Vedic and Śaiva revelations alike, the verse implies a single Supreme Reality accessible through multiple authoritative śruti-based modes of praise.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes mantra-upāsanā—discipline through sacred recitation (Vedic mantras, Rudra formulas, Atharvaśiras)—a foundational practice that supports concentration (dhāraṇā) and devotion (bhakti) within Pāśupata-oriented Śaiva sādhanā.

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

It reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesizing stance: worship of Śiva (Bhava) is validated through Vedic authority, aligning sectarian devotion with a broader non-contradictory dharmic framework often used to harmonize Śiva and Viṣṇu traditions.