Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37

Sūrya-vaṃśa Genealogy and the Supremacy of Tapas: Gāyatrī-Japa, Rudra-Darśana, and Śatarudrīya Upadeśa

Devanagari script

जमदग्निरुवाच अजस्य नाभावध्येकमीश्वरेण समर्पितम् / बीजं भगवता येन स देवस्तपसेज्यते

Transliteration

jamadagniruvāca ajasya nābhāvadhyekamīśvareṇa samarpitam / bījaṃ bhagavatā yena sa devastapasejyate

Translation

جمدگنی نے کہا—اَج (بے جنم) کے ناف کے کنول میں ایشور کے سپرد کیا گیا وہ ایک بے مثال بیج، جس کے ذریعے بھگوان سृष्टی کو جاری کرتے ہیں؛ وہی دیو تپسیا سے پوجا کے لائق ہے۔

Word by Word

• जमदग्निः: Jamadagni
• जमदग्निः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जमदग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अजस्य: of the Unborn (Aja)
• अजस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• नाभौ: in the navel
• नाभौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अधि: upon
• अधि: Upapada-sambandha (उपपदसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधि (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय, अधिकरणार्थ (upon/over)

• एकम्: one (single entity)
• एकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र ‘बीजम्’ इत्यस्य विशेष्यभावेन (appositional)

• ईश्वरेण: by the Lord
• ईश्वरेण: Kartr-karana/Agent-instrument (कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• समर्पितम्: offered/dedicated
• समर्पितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√अर्प् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• बीजम्: seed
• बीजम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भगवता: by the Blessed Lord
• भगवता: Karana/Agent (करण/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• सः: he/that one
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तपसे: for austerity
• तपसे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• इज्यते: is worshipped
• इज्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Jamadagni

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Jamadagni
• Ishvara
• Bhagavan
• Aja (the Unborn)
• Lotus-navel (nābhi)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as Īśvara—the causal “seed” behind manifestation—worthy of realization and reverence through disciplined tapas, implying an ultimate source beyond the created order.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Tapas (austerity) is emphasized as a primary limb of sādhana—purifying the practitioner and focusing devotion toward Īśvara, consistent with the Kurma Purana’s yogic-dharmic framework.

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

By centering on Īśvara/Bhagavān as the single causal Lord worshipped by tapas, the verse supports the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the supreme divine principle transcends sectarian naming.