Shloka 28

Commencement of the Upari-bhāga: The Sages Request Brahma-vidyā; Vyāsa Recalls the Badarikā Inquiry and Śiva–Viṣṇu Theophany

Devanagari script

एवमुक्ते तु मुनयः प्रापश्यन् पुरुषोत्तमम् / विहाय तापसं रूपं संस्थितं स्वेन तेजसा

Transliteration

evamukte tu munayaḥ prāpaśyan puruṣottamam / vihāya tāpasaṃ rūpaṃ saṃsthitaṃ svena tejasā

Translation

เมื่อกล่าวดังนี้แล้ว เหล่ามุนีได้เห็นพระปุรุโษตตมะ ทรงละคราบนักบำเพ็ญตบะ และประทับยืนเผยพระองค์ด้วยรัศมีแห่งพระองค์เอง

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb

• उक्ते: when (it was) said
• उक्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त past passive participle (कृदन्त); locative singular नपुंसक/पुं (सप्तमी एकवचन) in locative absolute sense

• तु: but/then
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle (विरोध/अनुवाद)

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• प्रापश्यन्: they saw
• प्रापश्यन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√पश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुरुषोत्तमम्: the Supreme Person
• पुरुषोत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘best of persons’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• विहाय: having left/abandoned
• विहाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√हा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त gerund (अव्ययभाव/कृदन्त), ‘having abandoned’

• तापसम्: ascetic
• तापसम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तापस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; adjective qualifying रूपम्

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• संस्थितम्: standing/established
• संस्थितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त past passive participle (कृदन्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; agreeing with पुरुषोत्तमम् (as seen)

• स्वेन: by his own
• स्वेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक/पुं, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; reflexive adjective

• तेजसा: splendor, radiance
• तेजसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Sūta/Vyāsa tradition) describing the epiphany of Puruṣottama to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Puruṣottama

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as self-luminous—revealed not by external marks but by His own tejas—suggesting the Atman/Iśvara as intrinsically radiant and self-established.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implies a yogic fruition: through tapas and disciplined perception, the sages attain darśana (direct vision). The shift from an outer “ascetic form” to inner radiance echoes the yogic movement from symbols to direct realization.

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

By emphasizing Puruṣottama’s transcendent, self-radiant nature beyond temporary guises, it supports the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: the Supreme can be approached through multiple sectarian idioms (Śaiva/Pāśupata or Vaiṣṇava) while remaining one reality.