Kali-yuga Doṣas, the Supremacy of Rudra as Refuge, and the Closure of the Manvantara Teaching
तस्मादनीश्वरानन्यान् त्यक्त्वा देवं महेश्वरम् / समाश्रयेद् विरूपाक्षं यदीच्छेत् परमं पदम्
tasmādanīśvarānanyān tyaktvā devaṃ maheśvaram / samāśrayed virūpākṣaṃ yadīcchet paramaṃ padam
కాబట్టి నిజమైన ఈశ్వరులు కాని ఇతరులను విడిచి, పరమపదాన్ని కోరితే విరూపాక్ష మహేశ్వర దేవుని సంపూర్ణ శరణు పొందాలి।
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in a Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis tone
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
It points to the supreme goal (parama pada) as attained by exclusive refuge in the true Īśvara, implying that liberation is linked to realizing and aligning with the highest Lord rather than relying on limited powers.
The verse emphasizes śaraṇāgati (complete refuge) and ekānta-bhakti (single-point devotion) as a core discipline—an inward turning of mind toward Īśvara that supports steadiness (dhāraṇā) and liberation-oriented practice.
By presenting Mahēśvara as the supreme refuge within a Purāṇic discourse often voiced by Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu), it reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the supreme Īśvara is affirmed beyond rivalry.