Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 123

Prāyaścitta for Theft, Forbidden Foods, Impurity, and Ritual Lapses; Tīrtha–Vrata Remedies; Pativratā Mahātmyam via Sītā and Agni

Devanagari script

वैश्वानरं प्रपद्ये ऽहं सर्वभूतेष्ववस्थितम् / हव्यकव्यवहं देवं प्रपद्ये वह्निमीश्वरम्

Transliteration

vaiśvānaraṃ prapadye 'haṃ sarvabhūteṣvavasthitam / havyakavyavahaṃ devaṃ prapadye vahnimīśvaram

Translation

సర్వభూతాలలో నివసించే వైశ్వానరుని నేను శరణు పొందుతున్నాను. దేవులకు, పితృలకు హవ్య-కవ్యాలను మోసే ఆ ఈశ్వర అగ్నిని నేను శరణు పొందుతున్నాను।

Word by Word

• वैश्वानरम्: Vaiśvānara (universal fire)
• वैश्वानरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; (Vaiśvānara, universal fire)

• प्रपद्ये: I take refuge
• प्रपद्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √पद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• सर्व-भूतेषु: in all beings
• सर्व-भूतेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग ‘भूत’, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘सर्वेषु भूतेषु’ (in all beings)

• अवस्थितम्: abiding/established
• अवस्थितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव + √स्था (धातु) → अवस्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘स्थित’ = abiding/established

• हव्य-कव्य-वहम्: carrier of oblations (havyas and kavyas)
• हव्य-कव्य-वहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘हव्यं कव्यं च वहति’ (carrier of offerings to gods and ancestors)

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रपद्ये: I take refuge
• प्रपद्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √पद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• वह्निम्: Agni, fire
• वह्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord
• ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (lord)

Speaker

A devotee/narratorial voice within the Agni-invocation section (stuti-prayoga) of the Kurma Purana

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśvānara
• Agni (Vahni)
• Īśvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By identifying Vaiśvānara as “abiding in all beings,” the verse points to a single indwelling divine presence—experienced as the inner fire of life and consciousness—worthy of surrender as Īśvara.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It supports contemplation of the inner Vaiśvānara (antar-agni): meditating on the Lord present within all beings, aligning breath, attention, and offering (yajña-bhāva) inward—an inner-sacrifice orientation compatible with Pāśupata and Purāṇic yoga.

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

Rather than sectarian separation, it emphasizes Īśvara as one indwelling Lord: the same supreme reality is approached through Agni/Vaiśvānara imagery, consistent with the Kurma Purana’s synthetic, non-exclusive Shaiva–Vaishnava theology.