Commencement of the Upari-bhāga: The Sages Request Brahma-vidyā; Vyāsa Recalls the Badarikā Inquiry and Śiva–Viṣṇu Theophany
जयेश्वर महादेव जय भूतपते शिव / जयाशेषमुनीशान तपसाभिप्रपूजित
jayeśvara mahādeva jaya bhūtapate śiva / jayāśeṣamunīśāna tapasābhiprapūjita
Khải hoàn thay, hỡi Īśvara, Mahādeva! Khải hoàn thay, hỡi Śiva, Bhūtapati, Chúa tể muôn loài! Khải hoàn thay, bậc tối thượng giữa các hiền thánh, đấng được tôn thờ bằng tapas khổ hạnh!
Sages (Ṛṣis) praising Lord Śiva within the Īśvara-gītā setting narrated in the Kurma Purana
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
By acclaiming Śiva as Īśvara—the sovereign Lord revered by sages—the verse points to a supreme spiritual principle recognized through realization and disciplined practice, not merely ritual.
Tapas (austerity/ascetic discipline) is emphasized as a primary means of worship—suggesting inner purification, restraint, and sustained spiritual effort aligned with Pāśupata-oriented devotion.
Within the Kurma Purana’s synthesizing theology, such hymns elevate Śiva as Īśvara in a way compatible with the Purana’s broader non-sectarian framing—where supreme lordship is approached through unified devotion and yogic discipline.