Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

योगेश्वरं रुद्रमनन्तशक्तिं परायणं ब्रह्मतनुं पवित्रम् / नमाम सर्वे शरणार्थिनस्त्वां प्रसीद भूताधिपते महेश

Transliteration

yogeśvaraṃ rudramanantaśaktiṃ parāyaṇaṃ brahmatanuṃ pavitram / namāma sarve śaraṇārthinastvāṃ prasīda bhūtādhipate maheśa

Translation

Мы поклоняемся Рудре, Владыке йоги, бесконечной силы — нашему высшему прибежищу, чьё тело есть сам Брахман, Чистый. Мы все, ищущие защиты, склоняемся перед Тобой; будь милостив, о Махадева, Господь существ.

Word by Word

• योगेश्वरम्: Lord of Yoga
• योगेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: योगस्य ईश्वरः

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

• अनन्तशक्तिम्: of endless power
• अनन्तशक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: अनन्ता शक्तिः यस्य (as bahuvrīhi sense used adjectivally)

• परायणम्: supreme refuge/ultimate goal
• परायणम्: Karma (कर्म; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (contextually accusative singular), द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (one who is the supreme refuge/goal)

• ब्रह्मतनुम्: whose body is Brahman
• ब्रह्मतनुम्: Karma (कर्म; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ब्रह्मणः तनुः यस्य (adjectival)

• पवित्रम्: pure/holy
• पवित्रम्: Karma (कर्म; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (accusative singular), द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• नमाम: I bow
• नमाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सर्वे: all (of us)
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• शरणार्थिनः: refuge-seekers
• शरणार्थिनः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to सर्वे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण + अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: शरणम् अर्थयते इति = 'one seeking refuge'

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रसीद: be gracious
• प्रसीद: Kriya (क्रिया; request)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; प्र-उपसर्ग

• भूताधिपते: O lord of beings
• भूताधिपते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + अधिपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/8th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: भूतानाम् अधिपतिः

• महेश: O Mahādeva / great lord
• महेश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महान् ईशः

Speaker

A collective voice of devotees/sages within the narrative (stuti addressed to Śiva/Rudra).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Yogeshvara
• Brahman
• Mahesha
• Bhutadhipati

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling Rudra “brahma-tanu” (whose form is Brahman), the verse presents the Lord as identical with the supreme, pure Reality—implying that ultimate refuge is in the non-dual Brahman that also appears as Īśvara.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes surrender (śaraṇāgati) to the “Yogeśvara,” indicating Yoga culminates in taking refuge in the Lord—devotional concentration and inner reliance on Īśvara as the highest support, consistent with Pāśupata-oriented theism.

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

By describing Śiva in Brahman terms (“brahma-tanu”) and as the supreme refuge, it supports the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology where sectarian forms point to one supreme Brahman—allowing Śiva and Viṣṇu to be understood as non-contradictory manifestations of the same ultimate reality.