Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

Kapardeśvara at Piśācamocana — Liberation of a Piśāca and the Brahmapāra Hymn

Devanagari script

तत्क्षणात् परमं लिङ्गं प्रादुर्भूतं शिवात्मकम् / ज्ञानमानन्दमद्वैतं कोटिकालाग्निसन्निभम्

Transliteration

tatkṣaṇāt paramaṃ liṅgaṃ prādurbhūtaṃ śivātmakam / jñānamānandamadvaitaṃ koṭikālāgnisannibham

Translation

അന്നേ ക്ഷണത്തിൽ പരമ ലിംഗം പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെട്ടു—ശിവാത്മകമായത്, അദ്വൈതം, ജ്ഞാനാനന്ദസ്വഭാവം, കോടിക്കണക്കിന് പ്രളയാഗ്നിയെപ്പോലെ ദീപ്തം.

Word by Word

• तत्क्षणात्: from that very moment
• तत्क्षणात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् + क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: तत् क्षणः (that moment) → तस्मात् क्षणात् (from that moment)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying लिङ्गम्)

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga (emblem)
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रादुर्भूतम्: manifested
• प्रादुर्भूतम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रादुस् + भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; धातु: भू (to be) with अव्यय प्रादुस्; अर्थ: manifested/appeared

• शिवात्मकम्: of Śiva-nature
• शिवात्मकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: शिवः आत्मा यस्य (having Śiva as its essence)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Visheshya/Visheshana-bhava (विशेष्य/विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (समुच्चित-विशेषणरूपेण)

• आनन्दम्: bliss
• आनन्दम्: Visheshya/Visheshana-bhava (विशेष्य/विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (समुच्चित-विशेषणरूपेण)

• अद्वैतम्: non-dual
• अद्वैतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्वैत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (non-dual)

• कोटिकालाग्निसन्निभम्: resembling the fire of millions of world-ages
• कोटिकालाग्निसन्निभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि + काल + अग्नि + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (उपमान-निर्देश): कोटि-काल-अग्नि-सदृशम् (like the fire at the end of millions of ages)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing the theophany within the Kurma Purana’s discourse to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Paramam Linga
• Kala (Time)
• Kala-agni (fire of dissolution)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It characterizes the highest reality as advaita (non-dual) and as jñāna and ānanda—pure consciousness and bliss—indicating the Supreme as beyond form yet revealing itself through the Liṅga as the mark of the transcendent.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

While this verse itself is a vision-description, it aligns with Pāśupata-oriented contemplation: meditating on the Supreme Liṅga as non-dual consciousness (jñāna) and bliss (ānanda), using the revealed form as a support (ālambana) to transcend dualistic perception.

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

By presenting the Supreme principle as Śiva-essence (śivātmakam) and simultaneously defining it through non-dual jñāna-ānanda, the Kurma Purana supports a synthesis where sectarian distinctions yield to one ultimate reality—central to its Shaiva–Vaishnava harmony.