Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 132

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

यदहं लब्धवान् रुद्राद् वामदेवादनुत्तमम् / विशेषाद् गिरिशे भक्तिस्तस्मादारभ्य मे ऽभवत्

Transliteration

yadahaṃ labdhavān rudrād vāmadevādanuttamam / viśeṣād giriśe bhaktistasmādārabhya me 'bhavat

Translation

جب میں نے رُدر وام دیو سے یہ بےمثال تعلیم پائی، اسی وقت سے گِریش (شیو) کے لیے میری بھکتی خاص شدت سے بیدار ہوئی۔

Word by Word

• yat: which / what
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• labdhavān: obtained
• labdhavān: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतुँ (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘प्राप्तवान्’

• rudrāt: from Rudra
• rudrāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• vāmadevāt: from Vāmadeva
• vāmadevāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāmadeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• anuttamam: unsurpassed
• anuttamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (yat/implicit object)

• viśeṣāt: especially / due to a special reason
• viśeṣāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (ablative of cause)

• giriśe: toward/in regard to Giriśa (Śiva)
• giriśe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giriśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; विषयाधिकरणे

• bhaktiḥ: devotion
• bhaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tasmāt: from that (time)
• tasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; ‘from that (time/reason)’

• ārabhya: starting from
• ārabhya: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-rabh (धातु)
• Form: अव्यय, तुमुन्-सम्भव/gerund-like usage (absolutive sense) — ‘starting from’

• me: my / for me
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; enclitic

• abhavat: arose / became
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) speaking within the Īśvara-gītā context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti (mapped to shanta)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Vāmadeva
• Girīśa (Śiva)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that direct transmission of the highest teaching (anuttama upadeśa) awakens a transformed inner orientation—devotion—indicating realization is catalyzed by true knowledge received from a realized source.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds guru-upadeśa as the starting point: receiving the supreme instruction from Rudra/Vāmadeva leads to intensified bhakti, which in the Īśvara-gītā functions as a core limb supporting Pāśupata-oriented discipline and contemplative absorption.

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

With Kūrma (Viṣṇu) declaring special devotion to Girīśa (Śiva) after receiving Rudra’s teaching, the Purāṇa presents a synthesis where reverence and realization cross traditional sectarian lines, emphasizing unity in the Supreme.