Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55
Ikṣvāku-vaṃśa (Genealogy) culminating in Rāma; Setu-liṅga Māhātmya; Continuation through Kuśa and Lava
विशेषाढ् ब्राह्मणान् सर्वान् पूजयामसचेश्वरम् / यज्ञेन यज्ञहन्तारमश्वमेधेन शङ्करम्
viśeṣāḍh brāhmaṇān sarvān pūjayāmasaceśvaram / yajñena yajñahantāramaśvamedhena śaṅkaram
അതുകൊണ്ട് ഞങ്ങൾ പ്രത്യേക ഭക്തിയോടെ എല്ലാ ബ്രാഹ്മണന്മാരെയും പൂജിച്ചു; അവരുടെ കൂടെ ഈശ്വരനെയും. യജ്ഞത്തിലൂടെ യജ്ഞത്തെ നിലനിറുത്തിയും അവസാനിപ്പിക്കാനും കഴിയുന്ന ശങ്കരനെ, പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് അശ്വമേധയജ്ഞംകൊണ്ട്, ആരാധിച്ചു.
Narratorial voice within the Purāṇic discourse (a speaker recounting ritual worship; traditionally within the Kurma Purāṇa dialogue frame involving sages and Lord Kūrma)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It presents Īśvara as the inner lord connected with sacred action: honoring Brāhmaṇas and performing yajña becomes a mode of approaching the Supreme, who transcends ritual yet governs its power and culmination.
The verse emphasizes karma-yoga in a Purāṇic frame—sacred duty (yajña) and reverent service to Brāhmaṇas performed as worship of Īśvara—preparing the mind for higher disciplines taught elsewhere (including Pāśupata-oriented devotion and inner steadiness).
By calling the worshiped deity both Īśvara and Śaṅkara in the same ritual context, it reflects the Kurma Purāṇa’s synthesizing stance: the one Supreme is approached through Śiva-form while remaining the universal Lord honored through dharma and yajña.