Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 55
Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rudra’s Samanvaya Teaching
Maṅkaṇaka Episode
सस्मितं प्रेक्ष्य विश्वेशं तिष्ठन्तीममितद्युतिम् / दृष्ट्वा संत्रस्तहृदयो वेपमानो मुनीश्वरः / ननाम शिरसा रुद्रं रुद्राध्यायं जपन् वशी
sasmitaṃ prekṣya viśveśaṃ tiṣṭhantīmamitadyutim / dṛṣṭvā saṃtrastahṛdayo vepamāno munīśvaraḥ / nanāma śirasā rudraṃ rudrādhyāyaṃ japan vaśī
ವಿಶ್ವೇಶ್ವರನು ಮೃದುಸ್ಮಿತದಿಂದ, ಅಮಿತ ತೇಜಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಂತಿರುವುದನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ಮುನೀಶ್ವರನ ಹೃದಯ ಭಯ-ಭಕ್ತಿಯಿಂದ ನಡುಗಿತು. ವಶನಾಗಿ ಅವನು ರುದ್ರನಿಗೆ ಶಿರಸಾ ನಮಸ್ಕರಿಸಿ ರುದ್ರಾಧ್ಯಾಯವನ್ನು ಜಪಿಸಲು ಆರಂಭಿಸಿದನು.
Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the sage’s reaction)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
By calling the deity “Viśveśa” and depicting overwhelming, immeasurable radiance, the verse points to a transcendent Lord whose presence surpasses ordinary cognition—hinting at the Supreme Reality that inspires reverence and inner stillness in the seeker.
It highlights mantra-japa (recitation) and disciplined self-control (vaśitva): the sage steadies himself and takes refuge in Rudrādhyāya recitation, a devotional-yogic practice aligning mind, speech, and reverence (bhakti) into one-pointed contemplation.
The “Lord of the universe” is beheld, yet the sage bows to Rudra and recites Rudra-hymns—reflecting the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian theology where supreme divinity is approached through Rudra-upāsanā while maintaining an overarching unity of Hari and Hara.