Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 107

Devadāru (Dāruvana) Forest: The Delusion of Ritual Pride, the Liṅga Crisis, and the Teaching of Jñāna–Pāśupata Yoga

Devanagari script

नमो दिग्वाससे तुभ्यं विकृताय पिनाकिने / सर्वप्रणतदेहाय स्वयमप्रणतात्मने

Transliteration

namo digvāsase tubhyaṃ vikṛtāya pinākine / sarvapraṇatadehāya svayamapraṇatātmane

Translation

اے دِگواس (آکاش کو ہی لباس بنانے والے)، اے عجیب و ہیبت ناک پِناک دھارنے والے! آپ کو نمسکار؛ جن کے جسم کے آگے سب جھکتے ہیں، مگر جن کی ذاتِ حقیقی کسی کے آگے نہیں جھکتی—انہیں سلام۔

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

• दिक्-वाससे: to the one clad in the directions (sky-clad)
• दिक्-वाससे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश्/दिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘दिशः वासः यस्य’ (one whose clothing is the directions)

• तुभ्यम्: to you
• तुभ्यम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• विकृताय: to the wondrous/strange-formed one
• विकृताय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• पिनाकिने: to the bearer of Pināka (bow)
• पिनाकिने: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिनाकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; -इन् अन्त (possessive)

• सर्व-प्रणत-देहाय: to him whose body is bowed to by all
• सर्व-प्रणत-देहाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रणत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √नम्) + देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘सर्वैः प्रणतः देहः यस्य’ (whose body is bowed by all / before whom all bow)

• स्वयम्: by oneself; oneself
• स्वयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अ-प्रणत-आत्मने: to the one whose self is unbowed
• अ-प्रणत-आत्मने: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (नञ्-प्रत्यय) + प्रणत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √नम्) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष—‘अप्रणतः आत्मा यस्य’ (whose self is not bowed)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching/presenting a Rudra-stuti within the Upari-bhaga discourse (Ishvara-Gītā setting)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra
• Pinaka
• Atman

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It portrays the Lord as “svayam apraṇatātmā”—the Self that is inherently independent and unsurpassed: worshipped by all, yet not subordinated to any higher principle.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Pāśupata-style contemplation on Rudra as the transcendent Īśvara: meditate on Him as the sky-clad ascetic (digvāsa) and as the unbowed Self, cultivating surrender (praṇati) while recognizing His absolute sovereignty.

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

In the Kurma Purana’s Ishvara-Gītā atmosphere, Vishnu (as Kurma) voices praise of Rudra, reflecting a synthetic theology where devotion to Śiva is affirmed within a broader non-dual Īśvara framework rather than sectarian opposition.