Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

Kali-yuga Doṣas, the Supremacy of Rudra as Refuge, and the Closure of the Manvantara Teaching

Devanagari script

संसारतारणं रुद्रं ब्रह्माणं ब्रह्मणो ऽधिपम् / शाश्वतं सर्वगं ब्रह्मण्यं ब्राह्मणप्रियम्

Transliteration

saṃsāratāraṇaṃ rudraṃ brahmāṇaṃ brahmaṇo 'dhipam / śāśvataṃ sarvagaṃ brahmaṇyaṃ brāhmaṇapriyam

Translation

സംസാരത്തിൽ നിന്ന് കടത്തിവിടുന്ന രുദ്രനെ ഞാൻ ആരാധിക്കുന്നു; അവൻ ബ്രഹ്മസ്വരൂപനും ബ്രഹ്മത്തിന്റെ അധിപതിയും; ശാശ്വതൻ, സർവ്വവ്യാപി, വേദധർമ്മപാലകൻ, ബ്രാഹ്മണപ്രിയൻ.

Word by Word

• saṃsāratāraṇam: deliverer from saṃsāra
• saṃsāratāraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃsāra-tāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; samāsa: saṃsārasya tāraṇam (genitive tatpuruṣa) used as epithet

• rudram: Rudra
• rudram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• brahmāṇam: Brahmā / the Creator
• brahmāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular (brahmāṇa- form)

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahmā / of Brahman
• brahmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter stem usage, Genitive (6th), Singular

• adhipam: overlord; ruler
• adhipam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; governed by preceding genitive brahmaṇaḥ

• śāśvatam: eternal
• śāśvatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāśvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• sarvagam: all-pervading
• sarvagam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarvaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; samāsa: sarva + ga (one who goes everywhere)

• brahmaṇyam: favorable to Brahmins; pious
• brahmaṇyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahmaṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• brāhmaṇapriyam: dear to Brahmins
• brāhmaṇapriyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brāhmaṇa-priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; samāsa: brāhmaṇānāṃ priyaḥ (genitive tatpuruṣa)

Speaker

Narrative voice within a hymn-like praise (stuti) in the Kurma Purana’s Purva-bhaga, presenting Rudra in a Shaiva–Vaishnava synthetic theology

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Brahman
• Brahma
• Brāhmaṇas

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling Rudra “lord of Brahman,” “eternal,” and “all-pervading,” the verse frames the Supreme as the transcendent-immanent reality that governs and pervades all—an Ishvara who leads beings beyond saṃsāra toward liberation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse is primarily a stuti (devotional praise). In the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva framework, such praise supports devotion (bhakti) and contemplation on the all-pervading Lord—foundational attitudes that complement Pashupata-oriented discipline and meditative absorption on Ishvara.

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

It uses expansive, non-sectarian titles—identifying Rudra with “Brahmā” and as “lord of Brahman”—to present divinity as one supreme reality expressed through different names and functions, consistent with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.