Shloka 63

Kali-yuga Doṣas, the Supremacy of Rudra as Refuge, and the Closure of the Manvantara Teaching

Devanagari script

नार्जुनेन समः शंभोर्भक्त्या भूतो भविष्यति / मुक्त्वा सत्यवतीसूनुं कृष्णं वा देवकीसुतम्

Transliteration

nārjunena samaḥ śaṃbhorbhaktyā bhūto bhaviṣyati / muktvā satyavatīsūnuṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vā devakīsutam

Translation

శంభువుపై భక్తిలో అర్జునునితో సమానుడు ఎవడూ లేడు, ఉండడు—సత్యవతీసుతుడు (వ్యాసుడు) గాని, దేవకీసుతుడు కృష్ణుడు గాని తప్ప.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय); negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• arjunena: with Arjuna / than Arjuna
• arjunena: Tulanā-karaṇa (तुलना-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arjuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• samaḥ: equal
• samaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaṃbhoḥ: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• śaṃbhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhaktyā: by devotion
• bhaktyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhūtaḥ: having been, having become
• bhūtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past participle (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhaviṣyati: will be
• bhaviṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• muktvā: excluding, leaving aside
• muktvā: Apavāda (अपवाद)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √muc (मुच्) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त); 'leaving aside/excluding'

• satyavatī-sūnum: the son of Satyavatī (Vyāsa)
• satyavatī-sūnum: Karma (कर्म) (object of muktvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satyavatī (प्रातिपदिक) + sūnu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'son of Satyavatī'

• kṛṣṇam: Kṛṣṇa
• kṛṣṇam: Karma (कर्म) (object of muktvā, coordinated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय); disjunctive particle (विकल्प-निपात)

• devakī-sutam: the son of Devakī (Kṛṣṇa)
• devakī-sutam: Karma (कर्म) (object of muktvā, alternative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devakī (प्रातिपदिक) + suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'son of Devakī'

Speaker

A Kurma Purana narrator within the Purva-bhaga dialogue context (praising Śiva-bhakti)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Śambhu (Śiva)
• Vyāsa (Satyavatī-sūnu)
• Kṛṣṇa (Devakī-suta)
• Devakī
• Satyavatī

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By elevating Śambhu-bhakti as the highest measure of spiritual excellence, the verse implies that realization and liberation are approached through single-pointed devotion that purifies the mind toward the Supreme (Īśvara) who is taught as one, even when named as Śiva.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds bhakti as a primary sādhana—steady devotion and surrender to Śambhu—aligned with the Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-leaning emphasis on disciplined worship, remembrance, and inner fixation on the Lord as the core yogic method.

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

By honoring Kṛṣṇa (a Viṣṇu-figure) alongside Arjuna and Vyāsa while praising devotion to Śambhu, the verse reflects the Purana’s synthesis: devotion to Śiva is not set against Vaiṣṇava sanctity, but presented within a shared, non-sectarian framework of one Īśvara revered through multiple names.