Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

Brahmā’s Lotus-Birth, the Sealing of the Cosmic Womb, and the Epiphany of Parameśvara

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

सहस्त्रशीर्षा भूत्वा स सहस्त्राक्षः सहस्त्रपात् / सहस्त्रबाहुः सर्वज्ञश्चिन्त्यमानो मनीषिभिः

Transliteration

sahastraśīrṣā bhūtvā sa sahastrākṣaḥ sahastrapāt / sahastrabāhuḥ sarvajñaścintyamāno manīṣibhiḥ

Translation

وہ ہزار سروں والا بن کر ہزار آنکھوں اور ہزار پاؤں والا ہوتا ہے؛ ہزار بازوؤں والا، سب کچھ جاننے والا—جسے اہلِ دانش دھیان میں رکھتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• सहस्र-शीर्षा: having a thousand heads
• सहस्र-शीर्षा: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शीर्षन्/शीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—सहस्रं शीर्षाणि यस्य सः

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: पूर्वकाल (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सहस्र-अक्षः: having a thousand eyes
• सहस्र-अक्षः: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि/अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—सहस्रम् अक्षीणि यस्य सः

• सहस्र-पात्: having a thousand feet
• सहस्र-पात्: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘पात्’ = पाद-शब्दस्य प्रातिपदिक-रूपम्; बहुव्रीहिः—सहस्रं पादाः यस्य सः

• सहस्र-बाहुः: having a thousand arms
• सहस्र-बाहुः: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—सहस्रं बाहवः यस्य सः

• सर्व-ज्ञः: all-knowing
• सर्व-ज्ञः: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—सर्वं जानाति इति/सर्वेषां ज्ञः (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• चिन्त्यमानः: being contemplated
• चिन्त्यमानः: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि-प्रयोगे शानच्/मान-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present passive participle); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मनीषिभिः: by sages/wise ones
• मनीषिभिः: करण (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic voice describing the Supreme for contemplation within the Kurma Purana’s dhyāna framework)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Supreme Lord (Īśvara/Nārāyaṇa in cosmic form)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It portrays the Supreme as all-pervading and all-knowing—symbolized by “thousand heads/eyes/feet/arms”—indicating an Īśvara whose awareness and power are not limited by a single body or location, and who is therefore fit to be realized through contemplation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds dhyāna (contemplative meditation): the yogin steadily visualizes/reflects upon the cosmic, omniscient Lord (cintyamānaḥ). In the Kurma Purana’s yogic tone, such Īśvara-dhyāna supports one-pointedness (ekāgratā) and devotion-infused concentration used in Pāśupata-oriented discipline.

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

By emphasizing a single, cosmic Īśvara who is contemplated by sages, the verse supports the Purāṇic non-sectarian synthesis: the same Supreme Reality may be approached as Nārāyaṇa or as Śiva, with the viśvarūpa attributes expressing shared transcendence beyond sectarian form.