Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

भासयन्तं जगत् कृत्स्नं नीलकण्ठं स्वरश्मिभिः / रक्ताम्बरधरं रक्तं रक्तमाल्यानुलेपनम्

Transliteration

bhāsayantaṃ jagat kṛtsnaṃ nīlakaṇṭhaṃ svaraśmibhiḥ / raktāmbaradharaṃ raktaṃ raktamālyānulepanam

Translation

میں نے نیلکنٹھ پر بھو کو دیکھا جو اپنی کرنوں سے سارے جگت کو روشن کرتے ہیں—سرخ لباس پوش، سرخ تاباں، سرخ ہاروں اور سرخ لیپ سے آراستہ۔

Word by Word

• भासयन्तम्: illuminating
• भासयन्तम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of हरम्/पुरुषम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भास् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle, causative sense possible), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: कर्म (Karma; object of भासयन्तम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कृत्स्नम्: entire
• कृत्स्नम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of जगत्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• नीलकण्ठम्: blue-throated
• नीलकण्ठम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील-कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; नील + कण्ठ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्व: own
• स्व: सम्बन्ध (within compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (समासाङ्ग) अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुष-समासाङ्ग; 'own' as first member

• रश्मिभिः: with rays
• रश्मिभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रश्मि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• रक्ताम्बरधरम्: wearing red garments
• रक्ताम्बरधरम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त-अम्बर-धर (प्रातिपदिक; रक्त + अम्बर + धर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• रक्तम्: red
• रक्तम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• रक्तमाल्या: of red garlands
• रक्तमाल्या: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त-माल्य (प्रातिपदिक; रक्त + माल्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular) (समासाङ्ग)

• अनुलेपनम्: anointment, unguent
• अनुलेपनम्: विशेषण/कर्म (Qualifier: 'having ... unguent')
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनु-लिप् (धातु) → अनुलेपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd; Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); here as accusative qualifier in compound-context

Speaker

Narrator (a sage/reciter describing a divine vision of Shiva within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nilakantha

More Details (5 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying the deity as self-luminous—“illumining the entire universe with His own rays”—the verse points to the Supreme as svayaṁ-prakāśa (self-revealing consciousness) from whom all manifestation receives light and intelligibility.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It supports dhyāna-yoga through rūpa-dhyāna (meditation on form): concentrating on the Blue-throated Lord’s radiance and iconographic markers (color, garments, adornments) to steady the mind and internalize divine presence—consistent with Pāśupata-leaning contemplative discipline in the Kurma tradition.

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

Within the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology, such a vision of Shiva as universal illuminator aligns with the Purana’s non-sectarian stance: the supreme radiance is one, revered through Shiva’s form here while harmonizing with Vishnu/Kurma’s overarching narration elsewhere.