Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī
श्रुत्वोपमन्योस्तद् वाक्यं भगवान् केशिमर्दनः / व्याजहार महायोगी वचनं प्रणिपत्य तम्
śrutvopamanyostad vākyaṃ bhagavān keśimardanaḥ / vyājahāra mahāyogī vacanaṃ praṇipatya tam
ఉపమన్యువు పలికిన మాటలు విని, కేశిమర్దనుడైన భగవాన్ మహాయోగి, అతనికి నమస్కరించి ప్రత్యుత్తరంగా పలికెను.
Narrator (Purāṇic narrator) describing Lord Vishnu’s response to Upamanyu
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Indirectly, it presents the Supreme (Bhagavān) as “mahāyogī,” implying mastery of inner realization; the Atman-oriented path is approached through disciplined yoga and reverent receptivity to spiritual instruction.
The verse highlights yogic discipline through conduct: humility, prostration, and attentive listening to a realized teacher—foundational attitudes that support higher practices (dhyāna, samādhi) emphasized in Kurma Purana’s yoga-oriented teachings.
By portraying Vishnu (Keśimardana) as a “mahāyogī” who bows to a sage associated with Shaiva currents, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where Vaishnava and Shaiva holiness mutually honor one another.