Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 32

Rudra’s Cosmic Dance and the Recognition of Rudra–Nārāyaṇa Unity (Īśvara-gītā Continuation)

Devanagari script

भवानीशो ऽनादिमांस्तेजोराशिर् ब्रह्मा विश्वं परमेष्ठी वरिष्ठः / स्वात्मानन्दमनुभूयाधिशेते स्वयं ज्योतिरचलो नित्यमुक्तः

Transliteration

bhavānīśo 'nādimāṃstejorāśir brahmā viśvaṃ parameṣṭhī variṣṭhaḥ / svātmānandamanubhūyādhiśete svayaṃ jyotiracalo nityamuktaḥ

Translation

ସେ ଭବାନୀଶ (ଶିବ)—ଅନାଦି, ତେଜୋରାଶି; ସେଇ ବ୍ରହ୍ମା, ସେଇ ବିଶ୍ୱ, ପରମେଷ୍ଠୀ ଓ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ। ସ୍ୱାତ୍ମାନନ୍ଦ ଅନୁଭବ କରି ସେ ନିଜେ ନିଜରେ ଅଧିଶୟ କରନ୍ତି—ସ୍ୱୟଂଜ୍ୟୋତି, ଅଚଳ, ନିତ୍ୟମୁକ୍ତ।

Word by Word

• bhavānīśaḥ: Lord of Bhavānī (Śiva)
• bhavānīśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavānī (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भवानी-ईशः = ‘Lord of Bhavānī’)

• anādi-mān: beginningless
• anādi-mān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anādi (प्रातिपदिक) + mat (प्रातिपदिक/मतुप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive) ‘having beginninglessness’; पूर्वपद-तत्पुरुष-सदृश-निर्माण

• tejo-rāśiḥ: mass of splendor
• tejo-rāśiḥ: Karta (कर्ता; समानाधिकरण-समुच्चय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक) + rāśi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तेजसः राशिः)

• brahmā: Brahmā / the Creator
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता; समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• viśvam: the universe (as all)
• viśvam: Karta (कर्ता; समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘the universe’ (समानाधिकरण)

• parameṣṭhī: the Supreme Lord (Parameṣṭhin)
• parameṣṭhī: Karta (कर्ता; समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + √sthā (धातु) → iṣṭhin/ī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; रूढि-समास/तत्पुरुष-व्युत्पत्तिः (परमे स्थाने तिष्ठति इति)

• variṣṭhaḥ: the greatest
• variṣṭhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛddha/vara (प्रातिपदिक) → variṣṭha (तद्धित/तमतम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अतिशय (superlative)

• svātma-ānandam: bliss of one’s own Self
• svātma-ānandam: Karma (कर्म; anubhūya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + ānanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (स्वस्य आत्मनः आनन्दः)

• anubhūya: having experienced
• anubhūya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√bhū (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having experienced’

• adhiśete: reclines, rests upon
• adhiśete: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi-√śī (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम

• svayam: by himself
• svayam: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• jyotiḥ: light, radiance
• jyotiḥ: Karta (कर्ता; समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyotis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• acalaḥ: immovable, steady
• acalaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-cala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• nitya-muktaḥ: ever-liberated
• nitya-muktaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक) + mukta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (नित्यः मुक्तः)

Speaker

Narratorial/Doctrinal voice within the Purāṇic discourse (praise-stotra style), aligned with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Bhavani
• Shiva
• Brahman
• Parameshthi

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as svayaṃ-jyoti (self-luminous), acala (immutable), and nitya-mukta (eternally free), resting in the bliss of direct Self-realization—an explicitly non-dual (Advaita-leaning) description of Ātman/Brahman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The key yogic emphasis is svātmānanda-anubhava—direct realization of the Self’s bliss—implying inward absorption (dhyāna/samādhi) where the mind rests in the self-luminous reality rather than external objects, consistent with the Kurma Purana’s contemplative and Pāśupata-oriented discipline.

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

By identifying the Supreme as “Bhavānī’s Lord (Śiva)” while also calling Him Brahman and the universe itself, the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology: one non-dual Supreme is praised through multiple divine names and functions, harmonizing sectarian identities.