Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45

Sūrya-vaṃśa Genealogy and the Supremacy of Tapas: Gāyatrī-Japa, Rudra-Darśana, and Śatarudrīya Upadeśa

Devanagari script

आराधयिष्ये तपसा देवमेकाक्षराह्वयम् / प्राणं बृहन्तं पुरुषमादित्यान्तरसंस्थितम्

Transliteration

ārādhayiṣye tapasā devamekākṣarāhvayam / prāṇaṃ bṛhantaṃ puruṣamādityāntarasaṃsthitam

Translation

Bằng khổ hạnh, ta sẽ phụng thờ Thần linh được gọi là “Nhất Tự” (Ekākṣara)—hơi thở sinh mệnh bao la, Đại Nhân (Mahāpuruṣa), Đấng an trụ trong Thái Dương (Āditya).

Word by Word

• ārādhayiṣye: I shall worship/propitiate
• ārādhayiṣye: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√rādh (धातु)
• Form: Verb; Future (लृट्), Parasmaipada, 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tapasā: by austerity
• tapasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• devam: the god
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• eka-akṣara-āhvayam: called ‘Ekākṣara’
• eka-akṣara-āhvayam: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक) + āhvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: ‘having the name “one-syllable”’ (एकाक्षरम् आह्वयः यस्य)

• prāṇam: the life-breath
• prāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; apposition to devam

• bṛhantam: great
• bṛhantam: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bṛhat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• puruṣam: the Person (Supreme Being)
• puruṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; apposition to devam

• āditya-antara-saṃsthitam: dwelling within the Sun
• āditya-antara-saṃsthitam: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āditya (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsthita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: ‘situated within the Sun’ (आदित्यस्य अन्तरे संस्थितः)

Speaker

A devotee/aspirant within the Kurma Purana narrative (voicing a vow of tapas and worship of the Ekākṣara Lord as the solar indweller)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ekākṣara (sacred monosyllable)
• Prāṇa
• Puruṣa
• Āditya (Sun)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the worshipful Lord as the “Puruṣa” and as “Prāṇa” (the all-pervading life-principle), indicating an inner, cosmic Self that can be realized as the indweller—here specifically contemplated within Āditya (the Sun).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Tapas-based sādhana is foregrounded: disciplined austerity paired with Ekākṣara-mantra orientation and dhyāna on the antaryāmin (inner indweller), using the Sun as a support for concentration (ālambana) while recognizing the deity as the inner Prāṇa-Puruṣa.

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

By focusing on the Ekākṣara Lord as the inner cosmic principle (Prāṇa-Puruṣa) rather than a sectarian form, the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s non-dual, synthesizing stance where the supreme deity can be approached through shared yogic-mantric categories honored by both Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions.