Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा तं योगिनां श्रेष्ठं भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहम् / जटाचीरधरं शान्तं ननाम शिरसा मुनिम्

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā taṃ yogināṃ śreṣṭhaṃ bhasmoddhūlitavigraham / jaṭācīradharaṃ śāntaṃ nanāma śirasā munim

Translation

ครั้นเห็นยอดแห่งโยคีผู้กายโปรยด้วยเถ้าศักดิ์สิทธิ์ ทรงชฎาและนุ่งห่มเปลือกไม้ มีอาการสงบ เขาก็น้อมเศียรกราบมุนี

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• योगिनाम्: of yogins
• योगिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• श्रेष्ठम्: the best
• श्रेष्ठम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of तम्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• भस्म-उद्धूलित-विग्रहम्: whose body was smeared with ash
• भस्म-उद्धूलित-विग्रहम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of तम्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्म (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धूलित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘भस्मना उद्धूलितः विग्रहः यस्य’ (descriptive epithet)

• जटा-चीर-धरम्: wearing matted hair and bark-garments
• जटा-चीर-धरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of तम्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटा (प्रातिपदिक) + चीर (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘जटां चीरं च धरति’

• शान्तम्: peaceful
• शान्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of तम्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• ननाम: bowed
• ननाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शिरसा: with (his) head
• शिरसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• मुनिम्: the sage
• मुनिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the devotee’s approach to the sage)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Muni (sage)
• Yogin (foremost yogi)
• Bhasma (sacred ash)
• Jaṭā (matted locks)
• Cīra (bark garment)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: the “foremost of yogins” embodies inner śānti (tranquility) and renunciation, implying that realization of the Self is reflected in serenity, humility, and freedom from outward display.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights the Pāśupata-Śaiva yogic ideal through external marks (bhasma, jaṭā, cīra) that signify inner disciplines—vairāgya (dispassion), self-restraint, and contemplative steadiness—paired with devotional reverence toward realized sages.

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

By honoring the Śaiva yogin’s marks (bhasma, jaṭā) within the Kurma Purana’s narrative world, it supports the Purāṇa’s synthetic vision where Vaiṣṇava devotion and Śaiva yogic authority coexist as complementary paths to the same Supreme.