Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 99

Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

तल्लिङ्गधारी सततं तद्भक्तजनवत्सलः / ध्यायेदथार्चयेदेतान् ब्रह्मविद्यापरायणः

Transliteration

talliṅgadhārī satataṃ tadbhaktajanavatsalaḥ / dhyāyedathārcayedetān brahmavidyāparāyaṇaḥ

Translation

ఆ పవిత్ర లింగ-చిహ్నాన్ని ఎల్లప్పుడూ ధరించి, భక్తుల పట్ల వాత్సల్యంతో, బ్రహ్మవిద్యలో పరాయణుడై—ముందుగా వీటిని (దివ్య రూపాలను) ధ్యానించి, అనంతరం అర్చన చేయాలి।

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Determiner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासे पूर्वपद (that)

• लिङ्गधारी: bearing that emblem
• लिङ्गधारी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिङ्गधारिन् (प्रातिपदिक: लिङ्ग + धारिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: तस्य लिङ्गं धारयति = ‘bearing that emblem/mark’

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): ‘always/constantly’

• तत्: of that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive determiner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-एकवचनार्थे समासपूर्वपद (tad- = ‘of that’)

• भक्तजनवत्सलः: affectionate to devotees
• भक्तजनवत्सलः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्तजनवत्सल (प्रातिपदिक: भक्त + जन + वत्सल)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: भक्तजनस्य वत्सलः = ‘affectionate to devotees’

• ध्यायेत्: should meditate
• ध्यायेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), तृतीयपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should meditate’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Sequencer)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereupon)

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), तृतीयपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should worship’

• एतान्: these (ones)
• एतान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; अर्चयेत् इत्यस्य कर्म

• ब्रह्मविद्यापरायणः: devoted to knowledge of Brahman
• ब्रह्मविद्यापरायणः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मविद्यापरायण (प्रातिपदिक: ब्रह्मविद्या + परायण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ब्रह्मविद्यायां परायणः = ‘devoted to Brahma-knowledge’

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing the sages/seekers (as preserved in the Kaurma teaching stream)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (implied by liṅga and liṅga-dhāraṇa)
• Brahman (Brahma-vidyā)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By praising the practitioner who is “brahma-vidyā-parāyaṇa,” the verse frames worship as grounded in realization-oriented knowledge of Brahman—suggesting that true devotion culminates in insight into the Supreme Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It explicitly gives the sequence dhyāna (meditative contemplation) followed by arcana (ritual worship), aligning with Purāṇic/Pāśupata discipline where inner absorption is supported by outer devotion and sacred observance (liṅga-dhāraṇa).

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

Though voiced within a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa setting, it endorses Śaiva liṅga-symbolism and devotion to Śiva’s devotees while grounding the goal in Brahman-knowledge—typical of the Kūrma Purāṇa’s non-sectarian, unity-oriented synthesis.