Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

Oṅkāra-Liṅga and the Secret Pañcāyatana Liṅgas of Kāśī: Kṛttivāseśvara-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

संप्राप्य लोके जगतामभीष्टं सुदुर्लभं विप्रकुलेषु जन्म / ध्याने समाधाय जपन्ति रुद्रं ध्यायन्ति चित्ते यतयो महेशम्

Transliteration

saṃprāpya loke jagatāmabhīṣṭaṃ sudurlabhaṃ viprakuleṣu janma / dhyāne samādhāya japanti rudraṃ dhyāyanti citte yatayo maheśam

Translation

ครั้นได้บังเกิดในตระกูลพราหมณ์อันหาได้ยากยิ่ง ซึ่งเป็นสิ่งที่สรรพสัตว์ปรารถนา เหล่ายตีย่อมตั้งมั่นในฌานและสมาธิ สวดนามพระรุทระ และเพ่งพระมหีศะไว้ในจิต

Word by Word

• संप्राप्य: having attained
• संप्राप्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-प्र-आप् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त-अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• जगताम्: of beings/of the worlds
• जगताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• अभीष्टम्: the desired (goal)
• अभीष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभीष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; इष्-धातोः क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘desired (thing)’

• सुदुर्लभम्: very rare
• सुदुर्लभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक-विशेषण—‘very hard to obtain’

• विप्रकुलेषु: in Brahmin families
• विप्रकुलेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘विप्राणां कुलानि’

• जन्म: birth
• जन्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• ध्याने: in meditation
• ध्याने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• समाधाय: having fixed/placed
• समाधाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-आ-धा (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त-अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्यय (gerund)

• जपन्ति: recite
• जपन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• रुद्रम्: Rudra
• रुद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• ध्यायन्ति: meditate on
• ध्यायन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• चित्ते: in the mind
• चित्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• यतयः: ascetics
• यतयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• महेशम्: Maheśa
• महेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मह + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘महान् ईशः’

Speaker

Narratorial voice within the Purva-bhaga (instructional passage praising Śiva/Rudra as the object of yogic worship)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Mahesha
• Yatis
• Vipra (Brahmana)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies the Supreme is realized inwardly: Maheśa is to be contemplated “in the mind,” indicating inner realization through disciplined meditation rather than mere external rites.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights dhyāna (meditation), samādhi (one-pointed absorption), and japa (repetition of Rudra’s name/mantra) as core practices for yatis, aligning with Pāśupata-leaning Śaiva sādhanā in the Kūrma tradition.

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

While Śiva is explicitly worshiped as Rudra/Maheśa, the Kūrma Purāṇa’s broader frame (Vişṇu as Kūrma teaching dharma) supports a synthetic outlook where devotion to Śiva is upheld within a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇic setting.