Devadāru (Dāruvana) Forest: The Delusion of Ritual Pride, the Liṅga Crisis, and the Teaching of Jñāna–Pāśupata Yoga
कुशेशयमयीं मालं सर्वरत्नैरलङ्कृताम् / दधानो भगवानीशः समागच्छति सस्मितः
kuśeśayamayīṃ mālaṃ sarvaratnairalaṅkṛtām / dadhāno bhagavānīśaḥ samāgacchati sasmitaḥ
ทรงสวมพวงมาลัยดอกบัว อันประดับด้วยรัตนะนานาประการ พระภควานอีศะเสด็จเข้ามาอย่างแย้มสรวล
Purāṇic narrator (describing the Lord’s appearance within the ongoing dialogue frame involving sages and the divine teaching tradition)
Primary Rasa: shringara
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
By calling the approaching deity both “Bhagavān” and “Īśa,” the verse foregrounds the Supreme as a personal, gracious Lord—suggesting the Atman’s highest reality is not merely abstract, but the sovereign Consciousness that can be encountered through divine revelation.
The verse implies dhyāna-yoga through darśana: the meditator’s goal is a direct, grace-filled vision of Īśvara. The serene smile and auspicious adornments function as contemplative supports (ālambana) for focusing the mind in devotional meditation aligned with Pāśupata-oriented Īśvara-bhakti.
Using the title “Īśa” alongside “Bhagavān” reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology: the Supreme Lord is praised in terms resonant with both Śaiva (Īśa) and Vaiṣṇava (Bhagavān) idioms, pointing toward a non-sectarian, unity-of-Īśvara approach.