Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

Madhu–Kaiṭabha, Nārāyaṇa’s Yoga-Nidrā, Rudra’s Manifestation, and the Aṣṭamūrti–Trimūrti Teaching

Devanagari script

स्थानेष्वेतेषु ये रुद्रं ध्यायन्ति प्रणमन्ति च / तेषामष्टतनुर्देवो ददाति परमं पदम्

Transliteration

sthāneṣveteṣu ye rudraṃ dhyāyanti praṇamanti ca / teṣāmaṣṭatanurdevo dadāti paramaṃ padam

Translation

ان مقدس مقامات میں جو رُدر کا دھیان کرتے اور سجدۂ تعظیم بجا لاتے ہیں، اُنہیں آٹھ تنو والا دیو پرم پد (موکش) عطا کرتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• sthāneṣu: in the places
• sthāneṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• eteṣu: in these
• eteṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th), Plural; pronoun qualifying ‘sthāneṣu’

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; relative pronoun

• rudram: Rudra
• rudram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• dhyāyanti: meditate upon
• dhyāyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhyai (ध्यै धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person, Plural; parasmaipada

• praṇamanti: bow to
• praṇamanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√nam (नम् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person, Plural; parasmaipada

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयार्थक)

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th), Plural; pronoun

• aṣṭa-tanuḥ: the eight-formed (one)
• aṣṭa-tanuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + tanu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; द्विगु-समास (‘eight’ + ‘bodied/formed’)

• devaḥ: the god
• devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; apposition to ‘aṣṭa-tanuḥ’

• dadāti: gives
• dadāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; adjective qualifying ‘padam’

• padam: state/abode
• padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing sages/seekers in Purva-bhaga context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva
• Aṣṭamūrti (eightfold form)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to the “paramaṃ padam” as the highest spiritual attainment, implying liberation as the supreme state reached through God-centered contemplation and surrender.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Rudra-dhyāna (meditation on Rudra) combined with praṇāma (reverential prostration) is presented as an integrated sādhana—inner concentration supported by embodied devotion, aligned with Purāṇic yoga and tirtha-based discipline.

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

By presenting Rudra as the liberating Lord (“aṣṭatanur devaḥ”) within a Kurma (Vishnu) discourse, it reflects the Purāṇic synthesis where devotion to Śiva is affirmed as a direct means to the supreme goal, consistent with Shaiva–Vaishnava unity.