Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

Mādhayameśvara-māhātmya — Vyāsa at Mandākinī and the Pāśupata Vision

Devanagari script

भस्मोद्धूलितसर्वाङ्गो रुद्राध्ययनतत्परः / आराधयन् हरिः शंभुं कृत्वा पाशुपतं व्रतम्

Transliteration

bhasmoddhūlitasarvāṅgo rudrādhyayanatatparaḥ / ārādhayan hariḥ śaṃbhuṃ kṛtvā pāśupataṃ vratam

Translation

Dengan seluruh anggota tubuh disapukan abu suci, tekun dalam bacaan dan pengajian ajaran Rudra, Hari memuja Śambhu setelah menunaikan ikrar Pāśupata.

Word by Word

• भस्म-उद्धूलित-सर्व-अङ्गः: whose whole body is dusted with ash
• भस्म-उद्धूलित-सर्व-अङ्गः: विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्म (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धूलित (कृदन्त, √धूल्/√ध्वंस्?; here PPP 'उद्धूलित') + सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः: 'भस्मेन उद्धूलितानि सर्वाणि अङ्गानि यस्य' इति बहुव्रीह्यर्थे प्रयोगः (but form treated as adjective to hariḥ)

• रुद्र-अध्ययन-तत्परः: intent on studying (the lore of) Rudra
• रुद्र-अध्ययन-तत्परः: विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अध्ययन (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: 'रुद्रस्य अध्ययनम्' + 'तस्मिन् तत्परः'

• आराधयन्: worshipping
• आराधयन्: क्रिया (कर्ता-सापेक्ष)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √राध् (धातु) + आ- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी; क्रिया-विशेषणरूपेण

• हरिः: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शम्भुम्: Śambhu (Shiva)
• शम्भुम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having undertaken/done
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभावः; 'having done'

• पाशुपतम्: Pāśupata
• पाशुपतम्: विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाशुपत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'व्रतम्' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• व्रतम्: vow/observance
• व्रतम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator in the Kurma Purana’s discourse framework)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Shambhu (Shiva)
• Rudra
• Pashupata Vrata
• Bhasma (sacred ash)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By showing Hari (Viṣṇu) himself performing Śiva’s Pāśupata observance, the verse implies a single supreme reality (Īśvara) honored through multiple divine forms—pointing toward an underlying non-sectarian oneness rather than competing absolutes.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights Pāśupata discipline: wearing/smearing bhasma as a mark of renunciation and purity, and rudrādhyayana (focused recitation/study of Rudra-mantras and Śaiva teachings) as sustained devotional concentration (bhakti-yukta dhyāna) culminating in ārādhana (formal propitiatory worship).

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

It depicts reverential reciprocity: Hari worships Śambhu through Śaiva vrata, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s theme that Śiva and Viṣṇu function as mutually honoring manifestations of the one Īśvara, supporting a Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.