Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

विज्ञापितो मुनिगणैर्विश्वात्मा कमलोद्भवः / ध्यात्वा देवं त्रिशूलाङ्कं कृताञ्जलिरभाषत

Transliteration

vijñāpito munigaṇairviśvātmā kamalodbhavaḥ / dhyātvā devaṃ triśūlāṅkaṃ kṛtāñjalirabhāṣata

Translation

ເມື່ອຖືກຝູງມຸນີທັງຫຼາຍທູນຂໍດັ່ງນັ້ນ, ຜູ້ເກີດຈາກດອກບົວ (ພຣະພຣະຫມາ) ຜູ້ເປັນອາດຕະພາຍໃນຂອງສາກົນ ໄດ້ເຂົ້າສະມາທິລະລຶກເຖິງພຣະເທວະຜູ້ມີເຄື່ອງໝາຍຕຣິຊູນ (ພຣະສິວະ). ດ້ວຍມືພັບນົບ ທ່ານຈຶ່ງກ່າວຂຶ້ນ.

Word by Word

• विज्ञापितः: having been informed/entreated
• विज्ञापितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विज्ञापित (कृदन्त; वि+√ज्ञा/√ज्ञप् (धातु) + णिच्? + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) ‘informed/entreated’

• मुनिगणैः: by the group of sages
• मुनिगणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘मुनीनां गणः’

• विश्वात्मा: the soul of the universe
• विश्वात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘विश्वस्य आत्मा’

• कमलोद्भवः: lotus-born (Brahmā)
• कमलोद्भवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमल + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘कमलात् उद्भवः’ (born from the lotus)

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• त्रिशूलाङ्कम्: trident-marked
• त्रिशूलाङ्कम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिशूल + अङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘त्रिशूलस्य अङ्कः (चिह्नम्) यस्य’ (marked with trident)

• कृताञ्जलिः: with folded hands
• कृताञ्जलिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘कृतः अञ्जलिः येन’ (with hands folded)

• अभाषत: spoke
• अभाषत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+√भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing Brahmā’s action; Brahmā is about to speak)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā (Kamalodbhava)
• Śiva (Triśūlāṅka)
• Sages (Munigaṇa)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling Brahmā “viśvātmā,” it frames true authority as rooted in the universal indwelling Self, implying that cosmic roles function through an underlying spiritual Self-principle rather than mere status.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse models dhyāna (focused meditation) followed by añjali (reverential composure), a classic Purāṇic template for approaching Īśvara—inner recollection first, then prayerful speech.

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

Even a supreme cosmic deity like Brahmā turns inward in meditation and offers reverence to Śiva, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology where divine functions harmonize and devotion crosses sectarian boundaries.