Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 74

Devadāru (Dāruvana) Forest: The Delusion of Ritual Pride, the Liṅga Crisis, and the Teaching of Jñāna–Pāśupata Yoga

Devanagari script

सहस्रशीर्षा पुरुषः सहस्राक्षः सहस्रपात् / एकशृङ्गो महानात्मा पुराणो ऽष्टाक्षरो हरिः

Transliteration

sahasraśīrṣā puruṣaḥ sahasrākṣaḥ sahasrapāt / ekaśṛṅgo mahānātmā purāṇo 'ṣṭākṣaro hariḥ

Translation

அந்த பரமபுருஷன் ஆயிரம் தலைகள், ஆயிரம் கண்கள், ஆயிரம் பாதங்கள் உடையவன். ஒரே சிருங்கம் கொண்ட தனித்துவன்; மகாத்மா, ஆதிபுருஷன் ஹரி—புனித அஷ்டாக்ஷர மந்திர வடிவன்.

Word by Word

• sahasraśīrṣāḥ: having a thousand heads
• sahasraśīrṣāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक) + śīrṣan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास: सहस्रं शीर्षाणि यस्य; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• puruṣaḥ: the Person (Puruṣa)
• puruṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sahasrākṣaḥ: having a thousand eyes
• sahasrākṣaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास: सहस्रम् अक्षीणि यस्य; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sahasrapāt: having a thousand feet
• sahasrapāt: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक) + pād (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास: सहस्रं पादाः यस्य; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (pāt as nom.sg. in -pād type)

• ekaśṛṅgaḥ: one-horned
• ekaśṛṅgaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + śṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास: एकं शृङ्गं यस्य; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mahānātmā: great-souled one
• mahānātmā: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: महान् आत्मा; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• purāṇaḥ: ancient
• purāṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• aṣṭākṣaraḥ: eight-syllabled
• aṣṭākṣaraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास: अष्टौ अक्षराणि यस्य/अष्टाक्षरः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• hariḥ: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• hariḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Puruṣa
• Hari
• Aṣṭākṣara (oṁ namo nārāyaṇāya)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the all-pervading Puruṣa—cosmic, all-seeing, and primordial—yet also approachable as Hari through mantra, indicating the Atman’s transcendence and immanence.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports mantra-yoga and dhyāna: meditating on the all-pervading Puruṣa while concentrating on the aṣṭākṣara (oṁ namo nārāyaṇāya) as a focused means to realize the Supreme.

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

Within the Ishvara Gita’s synthesis, the Supreme is described in universal, non-sectarian terms (Puruṣa, Mahānātmā) while named Hari—supporting the Purana’s view that the one Ishvara is praised through multiple theological lenses.