Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 56

Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion

Devanagari script

सहस्रशिरसे तुभ्यं सहस्राक्षाय ते नमः / नमः सहस्रहस्ताय सहस्रचरणाय च

Transliteration

sahasraśirase tubhyaṃ sahasrākṣāya te namaḥ / namaḥ sahasrahastāya sahasracaraṇāya ca

Translation

ہزار سروں والے آپ کو نمسکار؛ ہزار آنکھوں والے آپ کو پرنام۔ ہزار ہاتھوں والے کو نمہ، اور ہزار قدموں والے کو بھی نمسکار۔

Word by Word

• सहस्रशिरसे: to the thousand-headed (one)
• सहस्रशिरसे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्यानि सहस्रं शिरांसि सः)

• तुभ्यम्: to you
• तुभ्यम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सहस्राक्षाय: to the thousand-eyed (one)
• सहस्राक्षाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्यानि सहस्रम् अक्षीणि सः)

• ते: to you/your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्राय; नमस्कारार्थक

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्राय; नमस्कारार्थक

• सहस्रहस्ताय: to the thousand-handed (one)
• सहस्रहस्ताय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्यानि सहस्रं हस्ताः सः)

• सहस्रचरणाय: to the thousand-footed (one)
• सहस्रचरणाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र + चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्यानि सहस्रं चरणाः सः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

A devotee/sage offering stuti (hymn of praise) within the Purana’s narrative frame (as preserved in Purva-bhaga devotional sections)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Supreme Lord (Vishvarupa)
• Narayana (implied)
• Shiva-Vishnu unity (implied via shared epithet of the all-pervading Supreme)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By describing the Lord as “thousand-headed, thousand-eyed,” the verse points to the Supreme as the all-pervading, cosmic Self—one reality appearing as the many functions of seeing, acting, and supporting the universe.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It supports viśvarūpa-dhyāna—contemplation on the Lord’s all-encompassing form—training the mind to see every power of perception and action as belonging to the one Ishvara, a devotional aid compatible with Kurma Purana’s Yoga-shastra orientation.

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

The cosmic epithets (all-seeing, all-acting, all-pervading) are used across Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions for the same Supreme; the verse thus aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian emphasis that Ishvara is one, praised through multiple names and forms.