Kali-yuga Doṣas, the Supremacy of Rudra as Refuge, and the Closure of the Manvantara Teaching
तस्मात् सर्वप्रयत्नेन प्राप्य माहेश्वरं युगम् / विशेषाद् ब्राह्मणो रुद्रमीशानं शरणं व्रजेत्
tasmāt sarvaprayatnena prāpya māheśvaraṃ yugam / viśeṣād brāhmaṇo rudramīśānaṃ śaraṇaṃ vrajet
కాబట్టి సమస్త ప్రయత్నంతో మాహేశ్వర యుగాన్ని పొందినవాడు, ముఖ్యంగా బ్రాహ్మణుడు, రుద్రుడైన ఈశాన ప్రభువును శరణు వేడాలి।
Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing sages (Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis, urging refuge in Rudra/Īśāna)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
By directing seekers to take refuge in Īśāna (the sovereign Lord), the verse frames liberation as dependence on the supreme Īśvara—Rudra—who is treated as the highest refuge beyond mere ritual effort.
The practice emphasized is śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) supported by sarva-prayatna (total, disciplined endeavor), aligning with Pāśupata-oriented devotion and inner surrender as the decisive spiritual method.
With Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) himself urging refuge in Rudra-Īśāna, the text presents a non-sectarian synthesis: devotion to Śiva is endorsed within a Vaiṣṇava voice, reflecting unity of the supreme principle across names and forms.