Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 86

Adhyāya 25 — Liṅga-māhātmya (The Chapter on the Liṅga): Hari’s Śiva-Worship and the Fiery Pillar Theophany

Devanagari script

निर्विकाराय सत्याय नित्यायामलतेजसे / नमः शिवाय शान्ताय ब्रह्मणे लिङ्गमूर्तये

Transliteration

nirvikārāya satyāya nityāyāmalatejase / namaḥ śivāya śāntāya brahmaṇe liṅgamūrtaye

Translation

వికారరహితుడైన, సత్యస్వరూపుడైన, నిత్యుడైన, నిర్మల తేజస్సుగల పరమాత్మకు నమస్కారం; శాంతస్వరూప శివునికి, లింగమూర్తి బ్రహ్మకు నమః।

Word by Word

• निर्विकाराय: to the changeless
• निर्विकाराय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्विकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; विशेषण (to the one who is without change)

• सत्याय: to the true
• सत्याय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• नित्याय: to the eternal
• नित्याय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अमलतेजसे: to (him of) stainless radiance
• अमलतेजसे: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमल + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (तेजस्), चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; विशेषण; अमलं तेजः यस्य/यत्

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बोधन/उद्गार (Interjection)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable interjection); नमः + चतुर्थी-योग (dative-governing salutation)

• शिवाय: to Śiva
• शिवाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• शान्ताय: to the peaceful
• शान्ताय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ब्रह्मणे: to Brahman
• ब्रह्मणे: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• लिङ्गमूर्तये: to the liṅga-embodied form
• लिङ्गमूर्तये: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लिङ्गस्य मूर्तिः)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) presenting a Shaiva stotra within the Purāṇic discourse of the Kurma Purana

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahman
• Linga

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as nirvikāra (unchanging), satya (Truth), nitya (eternal), and amala-tejas (stainless luminosity), describing the Absolute in classical Vedāntic terms while addressing that same Reality as Śiva/Brahman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports contemplative Yoga by giving a meditation-object: the peaceful, changeless Brahman envisioned as Śiva in liṅga-mūrti—encouraging śānti (inner stillness) and steady absorption on the formless Absolute through a sacred symbol.

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

By calling Śiva directly “Brahman” and praising His transcendent qualities, the Kurma Purana advances a synthesis where sectarian forms point to one Supreme Reality—supporting the Purāṇa’s non-sectarian, integrative theology.