Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72

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

Devanagari script

राजापि तपसा रुद्रं जजापानन्यमानसः / भस्मच्छन्नस्त्रिषवणं स्नात्वा शान्तः समाहितः

Transliteration

rājāpi tapasā rudraṃ jajāpānanyamānasaḥ / bhasmacchannastriṣavaṇaṃ snātvā śāntaḥ samāhitaḥ

Translation

O rei também, por meio do tapas (austeridade), repetia Rudra com mente indivisa. Coberto de bhasma (cinza sagrada), banhando-se nos três momentos do dia (trisavana), permaneceu sereno e firmemente recolhido em meditação.

Word by Word

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• रुद्रम्: Rudra
• रुद्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जजाप: recited; chanted
• जजाप: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अनन्य-मानसः: with undistracted mind
• अनन्य-मानसः: Karta-anvayi (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्य + मानस (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अनन्यं मानसं यस्य/अनन्य-मानसः)

• भस्म-च्छन्नः: covered with ash
• भस्म-च्छन्नः: Karta-anvayi (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्मन् + छन्न (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृतीया/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषभावः ‘भस्मना छन्नः’ (covered with ash)

• त्रि-सवणम्: the three daily times (of worship/bathing)
• त्रि-सवणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + सवण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रीणि सवणानि = three daily times)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्ना (धातु) + क्त्वा (अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• शान्तः: calm
• शान्तः: Karta-anvayi (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘शम्’ धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (pacified)

• समाहितः: collected; concentrated
• समाहितः: Karta-anvayi (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-धा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्तः

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the king’s observance within the Kurma Purana narrative frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva
• King (rājā)
• Bhasma
• Tri-savana Snāna
• Japa
• Tapas

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By stressing ananya-manas (one-pointed mind) and samāhita (deep collectedness), the verse implies that inner realization arises through concentrated consciousness—where the seeker’s awareness becomes steady enough to reflect the Self beyond distraction.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights a Pāśupata-leaning sādhana: tapas (austerity), Rudra-mantra japa, bhasma-dhāraṇa (sacred ash observance), tri-sandhyā/triṣavaṇa snāna (ritual bathing at three daily times), and the yogic qualities of śānti (calm) and samādhāna (concentration).

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

Within the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology, devotion to Rudra is presented as a legitimate yogic path leading to inner steadiness—supporting the Purana’s broader Shaiva-Vaishnava harmony where worship of Śiva functions within a unified dharmic and spiritual framework.