Shloka 23
Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī
समीक्ष्य वासुदेवं तं शार्ङ्गशङ्खासिधारिणम् / तस्थिरे निश्चलाः सर्वे शुभाङ्गं तन्निवासिनः
samīkṣya vāsudevaṃ taṃ śārṅgaśaṅkhāsidhāriṇam / tasthire niścalāḥ sarve śubhāṅgaṃ tannivāsinaḥ
Tatkala memandang Vāsudeva itu—yang memegang busur Śārṅga, sangkha dan pedang—semua penghuni alam yang suci itu berdiri kaku, tidak bergerak, menatap tubuh-Nya yang membawa keberkatan.
Sūta (narrator) describing the scene to the sages (Naimiṣāraṇya frame)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
By portraying everyone becoming niścalāḥ (perfectly still) upon Vāsudeva’s vision, the verse points to the classical yogic insight that the presence of the Supreme draws the mind into steadiness—suggesting the Atman’s nature as शांत (peaceful) and स्थिर (unchanging).
The key cue is niścalatā—mental and bodily stillness—an effect associated with dhyāna and samādhāna (collectedness). In Kurma Purana’s broader spiritual frame, such steadiness supports both bhakti (reverent absorption) and yogic concentration aligned with dharma.
Though explicitly Vaishnava in iconography (Śārṅga, conch, sword), the verse’s emphasis is on the Supreme’s darśana producing yogic stillness—an experience equally valued in Shaiva-Pāśupata and Vaishnava contemplative traditions, reflecting Kurma Purana’s synthetic, non-sectarian tone.