Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 40

Kapālamocana: The Cutting of Brahmā’s Fifth Head, Śiva’s Kāpālika Vow, and Purification in Vārāṇasī

Devanagari script

यस्य ब्रह्मादयो देवा ऋषयो ब्रह्मवादिनः / अर्चयन्ति सदा लिङ्गं विश्वेशः खलु दृश्यते

Transliteration

yasya brahmādayo devā ṛṣayo brahmavādinaḥ / arcayanti sadā liṅgaṃ viśveśaḥ khalu dṛśyate

Translation

బ్రహ్మాది దేవతలు, బ్రహ్మవాదులైన ఋషులు ఎవరి లింగాన్ని ఎల్లప్పుడూ అర్చిస్తారో—ఆయనే నిశ్చయంగా విశ్వేశుడు, జగదీశ్వరుడుగా దర్శనమిస్తాడు।

Word by Word

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter)

• ब्रह्म-आदयः: Brahmā and others
• ब्रह्म-आदयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुष (आदि-शब्देन ‘आदिः’ = beginning/including)

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ब्रह्म-वादिनः: expounders of Brahman
• ब्रह्म-वादिनः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः वादिनः = speakers of Brahman)

• अर्चयन्ति: worship
• अर्चयन्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सदा: always
• सदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb of time)

• लिङ्गम्: the liṅga (emblem)
• लिङ्गम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

• विश्व-ईशः: the Lord of the universe
• विश्व-ईशः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुष (विश्वस्य ईशः = lord of the universe)

• खलु: indeed
• खलु: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: खलु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—निश्चय/उपपत्ति-बोधक निपात (particle of emphasis/indeed)

• दृश्यते: is seen/appears
• दृश्यते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि-प्रयोग/भावे (passive/appears)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Viṣṇu) instructing the sages, presenting Śiva-tattva in a Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Devas
• Ṛṣis
• Brahman
• Liṅga
• Viśveśa (Śiva)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By identifying the universally revered liṅga as Viśveśa, the verse points to a single supreme Lord manifest as the cosmic ground (Brahman) whom even Brahmā and Brahman-knowing sages worship—implying the Supreme Self as one, all-pervading sovereignty.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds upāsanā (devotional contemplation) through liṅga-arcana—steady worship that trains attention, purity, and surrender, aligning with the Kūrma Purāṇa’s Pāśupata-oriented discipline where devotion and inner concentration converge.

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

With Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) praising Viśveśa (Śiva) as the universally worshipped Lord, it reflects the Purāṇa’s non-sectarian theology: Viṣṇu teaches Śiva’s supremacy in worship, presenting their unity as one Īśvara-tattva.