Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 117

Prāyaścitta for Theft, Forbidden Foods, Impurity, and Ritual Lapses; Tīrtha–Vrata Remedies; Pativratā Mahātmyam via Sītā and Agni

Devanagari script

नमस्यामि महायोगं कृतान्तं गहनं परम् / दाहकं सर्वभूतानामीशानं कालरूपिणम्

Transliteration

namasyāmi mahāyogaṃ kṛtāntaṃ gahanaṃ param / dāhakaṃ sarvabhūtānāmīśānaṃ kālarūpiṇam

Translation

میں مہایوگ کو سجدۂ تعظیم کرتا ہوں—جو کِرتانت (موت) کی صورت، برتر اور ناقابلِ ادراک ہے؛ جو سب مخلوقات کو جلا دینے والا، زمانہ (کال) کے روپ میں ایشان ہے۔

Word by Word

• namasyāmi: I bow to / I salute
• namasyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √namas (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st Person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• mahā-yogam: the great Yogin/Yoga
• mahā-yogam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya, Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṛtāntam: Kṛtānta (Death)
• kṛtāntam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛtānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); epithet ‘Death/Time’

• gahanam: inscrutable, deep
• gahanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gahana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective to the addressed deity

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dāhakam: burner, consumer
• dāhakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dāhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarva-bhūtānām: of all beings
• sarva-bhūtānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध: ‘sarvāṇi bhūtāni’), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• īśānam: the Lord
• īśānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kāla-rūpiṇam: having the form of Time
• kāla-rūpiṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (उपपद/षष्ठी: ‘kālasya rūpaṃ yasya’), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

A devotee/narrative voice within the Upari-bhāga’s Śaiva-oriented praise (stuti) section (addressing Īśāna/Śiva as Kāla)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Īśāna (Śiva)
• Kāla (Time)
• Kṛtānta (Death)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By identifying the Lord as “supreme” and “unfathomable,” and as Time that ends all embodied existence, the verse points to a transcendent reality that governs birth and death and cannot be fully grasped by ordinary mind.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse frames “mahā-yoga” as the divine principle that dissolves all beings—suggesting contemplation on impermanence (kāla) and surrender (namas) to Īśāna, a core orientation in Śaiva-Pāśupata devotion and meditative detachment.

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

In the Kurma Purana’s synthesizing style, the supreme governing principle is praised as Īśāna (a Śiva-name) while the broader text often teaches unity of the highest Lord beyond sectarian limits—here emphasizing the one Lord as Time and the end of all beings.