Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 63

Sūrya-vaṃśa Genealogy and the Supremacy of Tapas: Gāyatrī-Japa, Rudra-Darśana, and Śatarudrīya Upadeśa

Devanagari script

भासयन्तं जगत् कृत्स्नं नीलकण्ठं स्वरश्मिभिः / रक्ताम्बरधरं रक्तं रक्तमाल्यानुलेपनम्

Transliteration

bhāsayantaṃ jagat kṛtsnaṃ nīlakaṇṭhaṃ svaraśmibhiḥ / raktāmbaradharaṃ raktaṃ raktamālyānulepanam

Translation

मी नीलकंठ प्रभूला पाहिले, जो आपल्या किरणांनी सर्व जग प्रकाशित करतो—लाल वस्त्रधारी, लाल तेजस्वी, लाल माळा व लाल अनुलेपनाने विभूषित।

Word by Word

• भासयन्तम्: illuminating
• भासयन्तम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of हरम्/पुरुषम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भास् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle, causative sense possible), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: कर्म (Karma; object of भासयन्तम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कृत्स्नम्: entire
• कृत्स्नम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of जगत्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• नीलकण्ठम्: blue-throated
• नीलकण्ठम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील-कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; नील + कण्ठ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्व: own
• स्व: सम्बन्ध (within compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (समासाङ्ग) अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुष-समासाङ्ग; 'own' as first member

• रश्मिभिः: with rays
• रश्मिभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रश्मि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• रक्ताम्बरधरम्: wearing red garments
• रक्ताम्बरधरम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त-अम्बर-धर (प्रातिपदिक; रक्त + अम्बर + धर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• रक्तम्: red
• रक्तम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• रक्तमाल्या: of red garlands
• रक्तमाल्या: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त-माल्य (प्रातिपदिक; रक्त + माल्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular) (समासाङ्ग)

• अनुलेपनम्: anointment, unguent
• अनुलेपनम्: विशेषण/कर्म (Qualifier: 'having ... unguent')
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनु-लिप् (धातु) → अनुलेपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd; Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); here as accusative qualifier in compound-context

Speaker

Narrator (a sage/reciter describing a divine vision of Shiva within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nilakantha

More Details (5 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying the deity as self-luminous—“illumining the entire universe with His own rays”—the verse points to the Supreme as svayaṁ-prakāśa (self-revealing consciousness) from whom all manifestation receives light and intelligibility.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It supports dhyāna-yoga through rūpa-dhyāna (meditation on form): concentrating on the Blue-throated Lord’s radiance and iconographic markers (color, garments, adornments) to steady the mind and internalize divine presence—consistent with Pāśupata-leaning contemplative discipline in the Kurma tradition.

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

Within the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology, such a vision of Shiva as universal illuminator aligns with the Purana’s non-sectarian stance: the supreme radiance is one, revered through Shiva’s form here while harmonizing with Vishnu/Kurma’s overarching narration elsewhere.