Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 100

Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

सर्वेषामेव भक्तानां शंभोर्लिङ्गमनुत्तमम् / सितेन भस्मना कार्यं ललाटे तु त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्

Transliteration

sarveṣāmeva bhaktānāṃ śaṃbhorliṅgamanuttamam / sitena bhasmanā kāryaṃ lalāṭe tu tripuṇḍrakam

Translation

Para sa lahat ng deboto, ang pinakadakilang sagisag ay ang liṅga ni Śambhu (Śiva). Iguhit sa noo ang banal na tatlong guhit (tripuṇḍra) gamit ang puting banal na abo.

Word by Word

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठीविभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (m/n) — 'of all'

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: अव्यय (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• भक्तानाम्: of devotees
• भक्तानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठीविभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• शंभोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठीविभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga, emblem
• लिङ्गम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed, supreme
• अनुत्तमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग — लिङ्गम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सितेन: with white (i.e., white)
• सितेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग — भस्मना सह साधनत्वे

• भस्मना: with ash
• भस्मना: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• कार्यम्: should be made/done
• कार्यम्: विधेय (Predicative/obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् → कार्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्-प्रत्यय, gerundive/obligatory); प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग — 'to be done/should be made'

• ललाटे: on the forehead
• ललाटे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललाट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• तु: but/and
• तु: अव्यय (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/contrast)

• त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्: the tripuṇḍra mark (three lines)
• त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + पुण्ड्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगुसमास (numeral compound); प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on Shaiva observances within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Shambhu (Shiva)
• Linga
• Bhasma (sacred ash)
• Tripundra

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting Śambhu’s liṅga as “unsurpassed,” the verse points to the Supreme as a single highest reality approached through a concrete sacred symbol, aligning devotion (bhakti) with realization of the highest principle.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes Pāśupata-style external sādhana: adopting sacred insignia (liṅga) and applying bhasma-tripūṇḍra as a disciplined devotional practice that supports inner recollection, purity, and steadiness in worship and meditation.

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

With Lord Kūrma (a form of Viṣṇu) teaching Śaiva observances, the Purāṇa frames Śiva-devotion as fully compatible with Vaiṣṇava revelation—an integrated, non-sectarian path where reverence to Śiva is affirmed within Vaiṣṇava narration.