Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 84
Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī
ज्ञातं हि भवता सर्वं स्वेन योगेन शङ्कर / इच्छाम्यात्मसमं पुत्रं त्वद्भक्तं देहि शङ्कर
jñātaṃ hi bhavatā sarvaṃ svena yogena śaṅkara / icchāmyātmasamaṃ putraṃ tvadbhaktaṃ dehi śaṅkara
โอ้ศังกร! ด้วยฤทธิ์โยคะของพระองค์ พระองค์ย่อมทรงรู้ทุกสิ่ง ข้าปรารถนาบุตรผู้เสมอด้วยตน เป็นผู้ภักดีต่อพระองค์ โปรดประทานให้ข้าเถิด โอ้ศังกร!
A devotee addressing Lord Śiva (Śaṅkara) in prayer (within the Purva-bhāga narrative frame).
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: shringara
FAQs
By asking for an “ātma-sama” son, the verse treats the self (ātman) as the highest measure of likeness and worth, implying that true continuity is not merely biological but aligned with inner character and spiritual orientation—especially devotion to Śiva.
The verse points to Śiva’s “svena yogena” (his own yogic power) as the basis of omniscience—an idea consistent with Pāśupata-oriented Śaiva yoga where perfected yoga yields extraordinary knowledge (jñāna) and mastery, guiding devotees toward disciplined practice and devotion.
Though Śiva alone is addressed, the Kurma Purana’s broader theology frames such devotion as compatible with Vaiṣṇava reverence (Kurma/Vishnu as narrator in many contexts), supporting a synthesis where supreme divinity is honored through complementary forms rather than sectarian opposition.