Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

Brahmā’s Lotus-Birth, the Sealing of the Cosmic Womb, and the Epiphany of Parameśvara

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

ललाटनयनो ऽनन्तो जटामण्डलमण्डितः / त्रिशूलपाणिर्भगवांस्तेजसां परमो निधिः

Transliteration

lalāṭanayano 'nanto jaṭāmaṇḍalamaṇḍitaḥ / triśūlapāṇirbhagavāṃstejasāṃ paramo nidhiḥ

Translation

Đấng có con mắt nơi trán, Đấng Vô Cùng, được trang nghiêm bởi vòng tóc bện; Đức Bhagavān cầm đinh ba trong tay—Ngài là kho tàng tối thượng của mọi tejas, mọi huy hoàng rực sáng.

Word by Word

• ललाट-नयनः: having an eye on the forehead
• ललाट-नयनः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ललाट (प्रातिपदिक) + नयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ललाटस्य नयनम्)

• अनन्तः: endless, infinite
• अनन्तः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जटा-मण्डल-मण्डितः: adorned with a circle of matted locks
• जटा-मण्डल-मण्डितः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटा (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डित (कृदन्त; √मण्ड्/मड् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत् (past participle) ‘मण्डितः’; समासः (जटानां मण्डलेन मण्डितः)

• त्रिशूल-पाणिः: whose hand holds a trident
• त्रिशूल-पाणिः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिशूल (प्रातिपदिक) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (यस्य पाणौ त्रिशूलम्)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive stem)

• तेजसाम्: of splendors/energies
• तेजसाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• परमः: supreme
• परमः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निधिः: treasure, repository
• निधिः: कर्ता/समानााधिकरण (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) describing Mahadeva/Rudra within the Ishvara Gita frame

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mahadeva
• Rudra
• Shiva
• Trishula
• Third Eye (Trinetra)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling Rudra “ananta” and the “supreme treasury of tejas,” the verse points to the Supreme as inexhaustible, beginningless consciousness-power—the source from which all brilliance, vitality, and spiritual radiance arise.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Ishvara-centered meditation typical of Pashupata-oriented teaching: contemplate the Lord as the inner source of tejas (spiritual potency) and as the all-seeing (forehead-eye), cultivating disciplined awareness that burns ignorance.

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

Within the Kurma Purana’s Ishvara Gita setting, Vishnu (as Kurma) praises Rudra as supreme, reflecting a non-competitive unity where Shiva and Vishnu are presented as mutually revealing forms of the one Ishvara.