Shloka 47

Ikṣvāku-vaṃśa (Genealogy) culminating in Rāma; Setu-liṅga Māhātmya; Continuation through Kuśa and Lava

Devanagari script

सेतुमध्ये महादेवमीशानं कृत्तिवाससम् / स्थापयामास लिङ्गस्थं पूजयामास राघवः

Transliteration

setumadhye mahādevamīśānaṃ kṛttivāsasam / sthāpayāmāsa liṅgasthaṃ pūjayāmāsa rāghavaḥ

Translation

సేతువు మధ్యలో రాఘవుడు లింగరూపంగా ఉన్న మహాదేవుడైన ఈశానుడు—కృత్తివాసుడిని—స్థాపించి పూజించాడు।

Word by Word

• सेतुमध्ये: in the middle of the bridge
• सेतुमध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: setu-madhya (प्रातिपदिक; सेतु + मध्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सेतोः मध्ये)

• महादेवम्: Mahadeva (Shiva)
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-deva (प्रातिपदिक; महा + देव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् देवः)

• ईशानम्: the Lord (Ishana)
• ईशानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; महादेवस्य विशेषण/अपपद (appositional)

• कृत्तिवाससम्: wearing a skin garment
• कृत्तिवाससम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛtti-vāsas (प्रातिपदिक; कृत्ति + वासस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कृत्तिः वासः यस्य)

• स्थापयामास: installed/caused to be placed
• स्थापयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (स्था) (धातु) + causative (णिच्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• लिङ्गस्थम्: situated in the linga
• लिङ्गस्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: liṅga-stha (प्रातिपदिक; लिङ्ग + स्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (लिङ्गे स्थितम्)

• पूजयामास: worshipped
• पूजयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (पूज्) (धातु) + causative (णिच्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative/intensive honorific)

• राघवः: Raghava (Rama)
• राघवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (Vyāsa/Śaunaka-style narration; verse in third-person description of Rāma’s act)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rāghava (Rāma)
• Mahādeva (Śiva)
• Īśāna
• Setu (Rāma-setu / Setubandha)
• Liṅga

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying Rāma reverently establishing and worshipping Īśāna as the liṅga, the verse points to the Purāṇic insight that the Supreme is approachable through a concrete symbol while remaining transcendent—one reality honored through devotional form.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds pūjā as a disciplined sādhana: स्थापना (ritual consecration), ध्यान/भाव (focused reverence toward Īśāna), and सेवा (acts of worship). In Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva framework, such devotion supports inner steadiness that complements Pāśupata-oriented restraint and contemplation.

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

Rāma—an avatāra associated with Viṣṇu—personally installs and worships Śiva as Īśāna, illustrating Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: devotion to one form of the Divine naturally includes reverence for the other, affirming unity rather than rivalry.