Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

Adhyāya 25 — Liṅga-māhātmya (The Chapter on the Liṅga): Hari’s Śiva-Worship and the Fiery Pillar Theophany

Devanagari script

पुरा चैकार्णवे घोरे नष्टे स्थावरजङ्गमे / प्रबोधार्थं ब्रह्मणो मे प्रादुर्भूतः स्वयं शिवः

Transliteration

purā caikārṇave ghore naṣṭe sthāvarajaṅgame / prabodhārthaṃ brahmaṇo me prādurbhūtaḥ svayaṃ śivaḥ

Translation

កាលពីបុរាណ នៅពេលសមុទ្រតែមួយដ៏គួរភ័យនៅសល់ ហើយសត្វនិងរុក្ខជាតិទាំងអស់បានវិនាស សម្រាប់បំភ្លឺឲ្យព្រះព្រហ្មភ្ញាក់ឡើង ព្រះសិវៈបានបង្ហាញខ្លួនដោយខ្លួនឯងមកមុខខ្ញុំ។

Word by Word

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (formerly/once)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• एकार्णवे: in the single ocean (cosmic flood)
• एकार्णवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकार्णव (प्रातिपदिक: एक + अर्णव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (एकः अर्णवः)

• घोरे: terrible
• घोरे: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; एकार्णवे-विशेषण

• नष्टे: when (it was) destroyed
• नष्टे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √नश् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• स्थावरजङ्गमे: in (the state of) the immobile and mobile beings
• स्थावरजङ्गमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थावरजङ्गम (प्रातिपदिक: स्थावर + जङ्गम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (स्थावराणि च जङ्गमानि च)

• प्रबोधार्थम्: for (the) awakening
• प्रबोधार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रबोधार्थ (प्रातिपदिक: प्रबोध + अर्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष (प्रबोधाय अर्थः) = प्रयोजनार्थक

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• मे: my / to me
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रादुर्भूतः: manifested/appeared
• प्रादुर्भूतः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रादुर् + √भू (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतभावे (appeared)

• स्वयम्: by himself
• स्वयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (by oneself)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu), narrating to the sages/Indradyumna contextually within the Purana’s dialogue frame

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Kurma (Vishnu)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying Śiva as self-manifest (svayam prādurbhūtaḥ) even at pralaya, the verse implies an ever-present, self-luminous Supreme Reality that does not depend on created forms—an Atman/Iśvara principle that persists when all names and forms dissolve.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to “prabodha” (awakening) as the spiritual aim: true knowledge that rouses consciousness from cosmic or individual inertia. In Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis, such awakening aligns with disciplined yoga and devotion—where grace (anugraha) and inner realization cooperate.

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

Vishnu (as Kurma) speaks of Śiva’s direct manifestation before him, presenting Śiva not as a rival deity but as the same supreme power assisting cosmic order—supporting the Purana’s non-sectarian vision of Shiva–Vishnu unity.