Shloka 56

Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion

Devanagari script

सहस्रशिरसे तुभ्यं सहस्राक्षाय ते नमः / नमः सहस्रहस्ताय सहस्रचरणाय च

Transliteration

sahasraśirase tubhyaṃ sahasrākṣāya te namaḥ / namaḥ sahasrahastāya sahasracaraṇāya ca

Translation

సహస్ర శిరస్సులు గల నీకు నమస్కారం; సహస్ర నేత్రాలు గల నీకు ప్రణామం. సహస్ర హస్తాలు గలవాడా, నీకు నమః; సహస్ర చరణాలు గలవాడా, నీకును నమస్కారం.

Word by Word

• सहस्रशिरसे: to the thousand-headed (one)
• सहस्रशिरसे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्यानि सहस्रं शिरांसि सः)

• तुभ्यम्: to you
• तुभ्यम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सहस्राक्षाय: to the thousand-eyed (one)
• सहस्राक्षाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्यानि सहस्रम् अक्षीणि सः)

• ते: to you/your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्राय; नमस्कारार्थक

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्राय; नमस्कारार्थक

• सहस्रहस्ताय: to the thousand-handed (one)
• सहस्रहस्ताय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्यानि सहस्रं हस्ताः सः)

• सहस्रचरणाय: to the thousand-footed (one)
• सहस्रचरणाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र + चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्यानि सहस्रं चरणाः सः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

A devotee/sage offering stuti (hymn of praise) within the Purana’s narrative frame (as preserved in Purva-bhaga devotional sections)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Supreme Lord (Vishvarupa)
• Narayana (implied)
• Shiva-Vishnu unity (implied via shared epithet of the all-pervading Supreme)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By describing the Lord as “thousand-headed, thousand-eyed,” the verse points to the Supreme as the all-pervading, cosmic Self—one reality appearing as the many functions of seeing, acting, and supporting the universe.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It supports viśvarūpa-dhyāna—contemplation on the Lord’s all-encompassing form—training the mind to see every power of perception and action as belonging to the one Ishvara, a devotional aid compatible with Kurma Purana’s Yoga-shastra orientation.

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

The cosmic epithets (all-seeing, all-acting, all-pervading) are used across Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions for the same Supreme; the verse thus aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian emphasis that Ishvara is one, praised through multiple names and forms.