Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 69

Adhyāya 25 — Liṅga-māhātmya (The Chapter on the Liṅga): Hari’s Śiva-Worship and the Fiery Pillar Theophany

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे दूरता पश्यमि ह्यमितप्रभम् / कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशं भ्राजमानं श्रियावृतम्

Transliteration

etasminnantare dūratā paśyami hyamitaprabham / koṭisūryapratīkāśaṃ bhrājamānaṃ śriyāvṛtam

Translation

اسی اثنا میں میں دور سے اُس بے پایاں نور والے کو دیکھتا ہوں—کروڑوں سورجوں کی مانند درخشاں—تاباں، اور شری یعنی الٰہی جلال سے گھرا ہوا۔

Word by Word

• एतस्मिन्: in this
• एतस्मिन्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अन्तरे: in the interval, meanwhile
• अन्तरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• दूरतः: from afar
• दूरतः: देशाधिकरण (Deśa-adhikaraṇa/Place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• पश्यामि: I see
• पश्यामि: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• अमितप्रभम्: of immeasurable splendor
• अमितप्रभम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमित + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘अमिता प्रभा यस्य’ (of immeasurable radiance)

• कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशम्: like millions of suns
• कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि + सूर्य + प्रतीकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘कोटिसूर्याणाम् प्रतीकाशः’ (resembling ten million suns)

• भ्राजमानम्: shining
• भ्राजमानम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्राज् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘shining’

• श्रिया: with splendor/with Śrī
• श्रिया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• आवृतम्: enveloped, surrounded
• आवृतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + वृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसक/पुं (contextual), द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘covered, enveloped’

Speaker

Narrator (a devotee/kingly seer describing a theophany within the Kurma Purana’s narrative frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Śrī (Lakṣmī / divine splendour)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to the Supreme as limitless (amita) and self-luminous—known not as an object among objects, but as overwhelming, incomparable radiance that surpasses ordinary perception.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports dhyāna-yoga: sustained contemplation of the Lord’s tejas (divine light). Such visualization stabilizes the mind, preparing it for one-pointed absorption (ekāgratā) praised across Kurma Purana’s spiritual instructions.

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

By emphasizing a single, supreme theophany marked by boundless splendour (Śrī/tejas), it aligns with the Purana’s integrative approach where the highest reality is one, expressed through revered forms honored in both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva traditions.