Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54
Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī
प्रभुं पुराणं पुरुषं पुरस्तात् सनातनं योगिनमीशितारम् / अणोरणीयांसमनन्तशक्तिं प्राणेश्वरं शंभुमसौ ददर्श
prabhuṃ purāṇaṃ puruṣaṃ purastāt sanātanaṃ yoginamīśitāram / aṇoraṇīyāṃsamanantaśaktiṃ prāṇeśvaraṃ śaṃbhumasau dadarśa
Sa harapan niya ay namataan si Śambhu (Śiva)—ang Makapangyarihang Panginoon, ang sinaunang Purusha, ang Walang Hanggan: ang Yogin at Kataas-taasang Tagapamahala; higit na maselan kaysa sa pinakamaselan, may walang hanggang kapangyarihan, at Panginoon ng hininga-buhay (prāṇa).
Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the vision of Śiva/Śambhu)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It portrays the Supreme as the eternal Puruṣa who is both immanent (subtler than the subtlest) and transcendent (of infinite power), the īśitā (controller) who governs even prāṇa—indicating a highest reality that pervades and rules all beings.
The verse emphasizes the Lord as “yogin” and “prāṇeśvara,” pointing to yogic realization through inner subtlety and mastery of prāṇa—suggestive of disciplined meditation and prāṇa-oriented practice aligned with Pāśupata-Śaiva yogic ideals in the Kūrma tradition.
By presenting Śambhu as the supreme Puruṣa and īśvara in a Purāṇa that also exalts Viṣṇu/Kūrma, it supports the Kūrma Purāṇa’s non-sectarian synthesis: Śiva and Viṣṇu are revealed as one supreme reality approached through different divine forms.