Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

Dvīpa-Varṣa Vibhāga and the Priyavrata–Agnīdhra Lineage

Cosmic Geography and Royal Succession

Devanagari script

तपसा कर्षितो ऽत्यर्थं कृशो धमनिसंततः / ज्ञानयोगरतो भूत्वा महापाशुपतो ऽभवत्

Transliteration

tapasā karṣito 'tyarthaṃ kṛśo dhamanisaṃtataḥ / jñānayogarato bhūtvā mahāpāśupato 'bhavat

Translation

Bị khổ hạnh bào mòn đến tột độ, thân ngài gầy guộc, gân mạch nổi rõ. Chuyên tâm nơi Jñāna-yoga (Yoga trí tuệ), ngài đạt địa vị Mahā-Pāśupata, bậc tối thượng chứng ngộ Paśupati—Śiva.

Word by Word

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• कर्षितः: emaciated/strained
• कर्षितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावः

• अत्यर्थम्: excessively
• अत्यर्थम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यर्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• कृशः: thin
• कृशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• धमनिसंततः: with veins stretched/prominent
• धमनिसंततः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धमनि + संतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—धमनिभिः संततः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• ज्ञानयोगरतः: devoted to the yoga of knowledge
• ज्ञानयोगरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान + योग + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—ज्ञानयोगे रतः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/क्त्वा), अव्ययभाव

• महापाशुपतः: a great Pāśupata (devotee/adept)
• महापाशुपतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + पाशुपत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—महा + पाशुपत; शिव-सम्बद्ध-मत/व्रत-विशेषः

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

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the ascetic’s transformation within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Paśupati
• Pāśupata
• Jñāna-yoga
• Tapas

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By stressing jñāna-yoga (the discipline of liberating knowledge), the verse implies that realization—not mere bodily austerity—is decisive; tapas purifies and concentrates, while knowledge culminates in the highest spiritual attainment.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Two linked disciplines are highlighted: (1) tapas—intense ascetic practice that refines the body-mind, and (2) jñāna-yoga—steady contemplation and discernment leading to realization; together they mature into the Pāśupata ideal of devotion and inner union with Paśupati (Śiva).

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

While explicitly naming the Pāśupata attainment (Śiva-centered), it occurs inside a Purāṇa known for Shaiva–Vaishnava harmony, where supreme realization can be framed through either Śiva (Paśupati) or Viṣṇu (Kurma) without sectarian contradiction.