Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 119

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

Devanagari script

प्रपद्ये शरणं वह्निं ब्रह्मण्यं ब्रह्मरूपिणम् / भूतेशं कृत्तिवसनं शरण्यं परमं पदम्

Transliteration

prapadye śaraṇaṃ vahniṃ brahmaṇyaṃ brahmarūpiṇam / bhūteśaṃ kṛttivasanaṃ śaraṇyaṃ paramaṃ padam

Translation

میں آگنی کی پناہ لیتا ہوں—جو برہمنِشٹھ اور برہما سوروپ ہے؛ جو بھوتیشور، کِرتّی وَسن دھاری، برترین پناہ اور اعلیٰ ترین مقام ہے۔

Word by Word

• prapadye: I take refuge in / I resort to
• prapadye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√pad (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st Person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• śaraṇam: as refuge
• śaraṇam: Gati-karman/Prayojana (गतिकर्म/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used with pra-√pad ‘as refuge’

• vahnim: Agni, fire
• vahnim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• brahmaṇyam: protector of dharma/Brahmins
• brahmaṇyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahmaṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘favorable to Brahmins/vedic order’

• brahma-rūpiṇam: having the form of Brahman
• brahma-rūpiṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी: ‘brahmaṇaḥ rūpaṃ yasya’), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhūteśam: Lord of beings
• bhūteśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी: ‘bhūtānām īśaḥ’), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṛtti-vasanam: clad in a skin
• kṛtti-vasanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛtti (प्रातिपदिक) + vasana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (उपपद: ‘kṛttiṃ vasanam yasya’), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaraṇyam: worthy of refuge
• śaraṇyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaraṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective to padam

• padam: abode, state, goal
• padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); appositionally identifying the deity as ‘the supreme abode/state’

Speaker

A devotee/supplicant voice within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-leaning devotional frame (stuti), invoking Agni with Īśvara/Rudra attributes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Brahman
• Bhutesha (Ishvara/Rudra epithet)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling Agni “brahmarūpin” (Brahman-formed) and “paramaṃ padam” (the highest state), the verse points to the non-dual reality where the ultimate refuge is Brahman itself—realized as the supreme goal beyond ordinary identity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes śaraṇāgati (surrender) and contemplation of the inner sacred fire (Agni) as a symbol of awakened consciousness—supporting meditative absorption where the deity is recognized as Brahman, a key move in Purāṇic yoga and Pāśupata-oriented devotion.

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

Agni is praised with Brahman-identification and with Rudra-like epithets (Bhūteśa, skin-garment), reflecting the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: the supreme refuge is one Reality, expressed through multiple divine forms honored across Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions.