Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 200

Dakṣa’s Progeny, Nṛsiṃha–Varāha Avatāras, and Andhaka’s Defeat

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

नमो ऽतिगुह्याय गुहान्तराय वेदान्तविज्ञानसुनिश्चिताय / त्रिकालहीनामलधामधाम्ने नमो महेशाय नमः शिवाय

Transliteration

namo 'tiguhyāya guhāntarāya vedāntavijñānasuniścitāya / trikālahīnāmaladhāmadhāmne namo maheśāya namaḥ śivāya

Translation

Kính lễ Đấng Cực Kỳ Huyền Mật, Đấng Nội Trú trong hang động kín nhiệm của trái tim, được xác chứng vững chắc bởi trí tuệ Vedānta. Kính lễ Nơi Trú của ánh sáng thanh tịnh, vượt ngoài ba thời. Kính lễ Maheśa; kính lễ Śiva.

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha/Prayojana (सम्बन्ध/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अतिगुह्याय: to the exceedingly secret one
• अतिगुह्याय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति-गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक; गुह्य = कृदन्त/विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘अति + गुह्य’ = exceedingly secret

• गुहान्तराय: to the one within the inner cave
• गुहान्तराय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुहा-अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘गुहायाः अन्तरम्’ = inner cave/within the cave (esoteric inner)

• वेदान्त-विज्ञान-सुनिश्चिताय: to the one well-determined by Vedānta knowledge
• वेदान्त-विज्ञान-सुनिश्चिताय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेदान्त-विज्ञान-सु-निश्चित (प्रातिपदिक; निश्चित = कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘वेदान्तविज्ञानेन सु-निश्चित’ = well-ascertained by Vedānta-knowledge

• त्रिकाल-हीन-अमल-धाम-धाम्ने: to the pure splendour beyond the three times
• त्रिकाल-हीन-अमल-धाम-धाम्ने: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि-काल-हीन-अमल-धाम-धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः ‘त्रिकालेभ्यः हीन’ (beyond the three times) + ‘अमल’ (pure) + ‘धाम’ (abode/splendour) + ‘धामन्’ (splendour) = to the pure splendour beyond time

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha/Prayojana (सम्बन्ध/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महेशाय: to Mahēśa (Great Lord)
• महेशाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘महान् ईशः’ = Great Lord

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha/Prayojana (सम्बन्ध/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शिवाय: to Śiva
• शिवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; proper epithet/name

Speaker

A devotee-narrator within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva praise context (stotra-style address to Śiva/Maheśvara).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahesha
• Vedanta
• Trikala (three times)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as the hidden Inner Indweller in the “heart-cave,” knowable through Vedāntic realization, and as pure, stainless radiance beyond past, present, and future—traits aligned with the Atman/Brahman description.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to inward contemplation: meditating on the Lord as the indwelling presence in the guhā (heart-cave), using Vedānta-based discernment (vijñāna) to recognize the timeless, pure light—an orientation compatible with Pāśupata-style interiorization and devotion.

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

By presenting Śiva as the timeless, inner Lord established by Vedānta, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthesizing theology where the Supreme reality is one, approached through Śiva-language and yogic insight—harmonizing Shaiva devotion with broader Purāṇic non-dualism.