Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 49

Virocana–Bali, Aditi’s Tapas, and the Vāmana–Trivikrama Episode

Devanagari script

कृष्णाजिनोपवीताङ्ग आषाढेन विराजितः / ब्राह्मणो जटिलो वेदानुद्गिरन् भस्ममण्डितः

Transliteration

kṛṣṇājinopavītāṅga āṣāḍhena virājitaḥ / brāhmaṇo jaṭilo vedānudgiran bhasmamaṇḍitaḥ

Translation

കൃഷ്ണമൃഗചർമ്മം ധരിച്ചു, യജ്ഞോപവീതം അണിഞ്ഞ്, ദണ്ഡംകൊണ്ട് ദീപ്തനായി, ജടാധാരിയായി, ഭസ്മവിഭൂഷിതനായി, നിരന്തരം വേദോച്ചാരണം ചെയ്യുന്ന ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ തപസ്സിന്റെ തേജസ്സോടെ പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെട്ടു।

Word by Word

• kṛṣṇa-ajina-upavīta-aṅgaḥ: whose body bears a black antelope-skin and sacred thread
• kṛṣṇa-ajina-upavīta-aṅgaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of kartā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ajina (प्रातिपदिक) + upavīta (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (nominative/1st), Ekavacana (singular); samāsa: tatpuruṣa (determinative)

• āṣāḍhena: with (the month of) Āṣāḍha
• āṣāḍhena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āṣāḍha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana (singular)

• virājitaḥ: adorned, resplendent
• virājitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of kartā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi√rāj (धातु)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya past participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• brāhmaṇaḥ: a brāhmaṇa
• brāhmaṇaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• jaṭilaḥ: matted-haired
• jaṭilaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of kartā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jaṭila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• vedān: the Vedas
• vedān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (accusative/2nd), Bahuvacana (plural)

• udgiran: uttering, reciting
• udgiran: Kartṛ-sāmānādhikaraṇya (कर्ता-समानाधिकरण) with brāhmaṇaḥ
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud√gṝ (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya present active participle (शतृ), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; parasmaipada sense

• bhasma-maṇḍitaḥ: adorned with ash
• bhasma-maṇḍitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of kartā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhasma (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇḍita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; samāsa: tatpuruṣa (instrumental/means implied)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the appearance/marks of an ascetic Brāhmaṇa within the Indradyumna–Kurma Purana narrative frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Vedas
• Bhasma (sacred ash)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by portraying the ascetic as Veda-reciting and ash-adorned, the verse points to inward purification and disciplined remembrance of Brahman/Īśvara as the basis for realizing the Self beyond external identity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights tapas-oriented discipline and sādhana markers associated with Shaiva-Pāśupata and Vedic asceticism—wearing the yajñopavīta, bearing a staff, applying bhasma, and sustained svādhyāya (Veda-recitation) as supports for concentration and renunciation.

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

Through shared ascetic symbolism (especially bhasma and tapas), it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: Vedic devotion and Shaiva ascetic signs are not opposed but converge as complementary paths oriented to the one Supreme Lord.