Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

Kapardeśvara at Piśācamocana — Liberation of a Piśāca and the Brahmapāra Hymn

Devanagari script

शङ्कुकर्णो ऽथ मुक्तात्मा तदात्मा सर्वगो ऽमलः / निलिल्ये विमले लिङ्गे तद्भुतमिवाभवत्

Transliteration

śaṅkukarṇo 'tha muktātmā tadātmā sarvago 'malaḥ / nililye vimale liṅge tadbhutamivābhavat

Translation

Rồi Śaṅkukarṇa—tự ngã đã được giải thoát—trở nên đồng nhất với “Đó”: khắp cùng, thanh tịnh không nhiễm. Ngài tan hòa vào Liṅga vô cấu, khiến cảnh tượng như kỳ diệu khó lường.

Word by Word

• शङ्कुकर्णः: Śaṅkukarṇa
• शङ्कुकर्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कुकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/conjunction)

• मुक्तात्मा: one whose self is liberated
• मुक्तात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्त + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: मुक्तः आत्मा यस्य/मुक्त आत्मा (liberated-souled)

• तदात्मा: identified with That
• तदात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: तस्य आत्मा/तदात्मा (having that as one’s self; identified with that)

• सर्वगः: all-pervading
• सर्वगः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अमलः: stainless, pure
• अमलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• निलिल्ये: merged (into)
• निलिल्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + लि (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: लि (to adhere/merge/lie) with उपसर्ग नि-; अर्थ: merged/entered

• विमले: in the pure
• विमले: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying लिङ्गे)

• लिङ्गे: in the liṅga
• लिङ्गे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• तद्भुतम्: as if become that
• तद्भुतम्: Kriya-visheshana/Upapada (क्रियाविशेषण/उपपद)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: तद्भूतम् = तद्रूपम्/तद्भावम् (become that; of that nature)

• इव: as if
• इव: Upamana-dyotaka (उपमानद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: भू (to be)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating to the sages), within the Purāṇic frame describing Śaṅkukarṇa’s culmination in Śiva-liṅga absorption

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Śaṅkukarṇa
• Liṅga
• Śiva

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents liberation as becoming “tadātmā”—identical in nature with the Supreme—described as all-pervading (sarvaga) and stainless (amala), indicating a non-dual realization rather than merely reaching a separate heaven.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to samāveśa/layā (complete absorption): the yogic culmination where the liberated consciousness dissolves into the “vimala liṅga,” aligning with Pāśupata-oriented contemplation of Śiva as the pure, formless Absolute.

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

By framing mokṣa as absorption into the pure Liṅga while using Upaniṣadic language of “That” (tad), it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: the Supreme is one, expressed through Śiva-tattva and Viṣṇu’s teaching voice within the Purāṇic tradition.