Adhyāya 25 — Liṅga-māhātmya (The Chapter on the Liṅga): Hari’s Śiva-Worship and the Fiery Pillar Theophany
प्रणम्य शिरसा कृष्णमनुज्ञातो महामुनिः / जगाम चेप्सितं देशं देवदेवस्य शूलिनः
praṇamya śirasā kṛṣṇamanujñāto mahāmuniḥ / jagāma cepsitaṃ deśaṃ devadevasya śūlinaḥ
కృష్ణునికి శిరసు వంచి ప్రణమించి, అనుమతి పొందిన మహాముని, దేవదేవుడైన త్రిశూలధారి ప్రభువు యొక్క ఇష్టమైన పుణ్యదేశానికి వెళ్లాడు.
Sūta (narrator) describing the sage’s action within the Kurma Purana narrative frame
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
By placing reverence to Kṛṣṇa alongside the destination identified with Śiva (Devadeva), the verse supports the Purana’s integrative theology: the supreme reality is approached through devotion that transcends sectarian division, hinting at one overarching divinity expressed through multiple forms.
The verse foregrounds preparatory discipline rather than a technique: humility (praṇāma), obedience to spiritual authorization (anujñā), and purposeful pilgrimage to a sanctified locus—practices that align with Purāṇic sādhanā supporting Pāśupata-oriented devotion and inner purification.
It presents a practical unity: the sage bows to Kṛṣṇa (Vishnu) yet journeys to the realm of Śiva (Śūlin), implying complementary reverence and a non-competitive, harmonized Shaiva–Vaishnava vision typical of the Kurma Purana.