Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

नमः कालाय रुद्राय महाग्रासाय शूलिने / नमः पिनाकहस्ताय त्रिनेत्राय नमो नमः

Transliteration

namaḥ kālāya rudrāya mahāgrāsāya śūline / namaḥ pinākahastāya trinetrāya namo namaḥ

Translation

اے رُدر! جو خود زمانہ ہے، اے عظیم نگلنے والے، اے شُول دھاری! آپ کو نمسکار۔ اے پیناک ہاتھ میں رکھنے والے، اے تین آنکھوں والے پروردگار! بار بار نمسکار۔

Word by Word

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), salutation particle

• kālāya: to Kāla (Time/Death)
• kālāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• rudrāya: to Rudra
• rudrāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahā-grāsāya: to the great devourer
• mahā-grāsāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + grāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: 'great devourer' (महान् ग्रासः)

• śūline: to the trident-bearer
• śūline: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūlin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); stem in -in (इन्-प्रातिपदिक)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), salutation particle

• pināka-hastāya: to him whose hand holds Pināka
• pināka-hastāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pināka (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa (instrumental/association sense): 'having Pināka in hand / whose hand holds Pināka' (पिनाकेन हस्तः / पिनाकधारी)

• tri-netrāya: to the three-eyed one
• tri-netrāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); dvigu: 'three-eyed' (त्रीणि नेत्राणि यस्य) used as epithet

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), salutation particle

• namaḥ: salutation (again)
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), repetition for emphasis (पुनरुक्ति)

Speaker

A devotee/sage voice within the Purāṇic narration offering Rudra-stuti (hymnic praise to Śiva)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva
• Kala
• Trishula
• Pinaka
• Trinetra

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By praising Rudra as Kāla (Time) and Mahāgrāsa (the all-devouring Reality), the verse points to the Supreme as the cosmic principle that transcends and absorbs all finite identities—an Ishvara-centric expression of the ultimate ground in which beings arise and dissolve.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse functions as mantra-like stuti for japa and bhakti-based dhyāna: meditating on Rudra’s forms (Trinetra, Śūlin, Pinākī) stabilizes attention on Ishvara, supporting inner purification that the Kurma tradition aligns with Pāśupata-oriented devotion and disciplined sādhana.

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

Though addressed to Rudra, the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis treats such stuti as praise of the one Ishvara appearing through distinct names and iconographies—supporting a non-sectarian, unity-oriented Purāṇic theology.