Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 96

Daily Duties of Brāhmaṇas: Snāna, Sandhyā, Sūrya-hṛdaya, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and the Pañca-mahāyajñas

Devanagari script

अथवा देवमीशानं भगवन्तं सनातनम् / आराधयेन्महादेवं भावपूतो महेश्वरम्

Transliteration

athavā devamīśānaṃ bhagavantaṃ sanātanam / ārādhayenmahādevaṃ bhāvapūto maheśvaram

Translation

Hoặc nữa, với tâm được thanh tịnh bởi lòng sùng kính chân thành, hãy thờ phụng Đấng Chúa—Īśāna, Bậc Thế Tôn vĩnh cửu—Mahādeva, Maheśvara.

Word by Word

• अथवा: or, alternatively
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-समुच्चय/विकल्प (disjunctive particle: or)

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन (accusative singular)

• ईशानम्: the Lord (Īśāna)
• ईशानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (acc. sg. adjective qualifying देवम्)

• भगवन्तम्: the Blessed one
• भगवन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (acc. sg.)

• सनातनम्: eternal
• सनातनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (acc. sg.)

• आराधयेत्: should worship
• आराधयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-राध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन (3rd sg. optative)

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva (the great god)
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक; महा + देव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (accusative singular)

• भावपूतः: purified by devotion/inner feeling
• भावपूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भावपूत (प्रातिपदिक; भाव + पूत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (nom. sg.; agent described)

• महेश्वरम्: Maheśvara
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; महा + ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (accusative singular)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in a Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis consistent with the Kurma Purana’s devotional-yogic teaching

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ishana
• Shiva (Mahadeva)
• Maheshvara
• Bhagavan (the Lord)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the Lord “Bhagavān” and “Sanātana,” the verse points to an eternal, sovereign reality worthy of worship; purity of inner disposition (bhāva) is treated as the key condition for approaching that supreme Lord.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes bhāva-śuddhi—inner purification through sincere devotion—as the practical foundation for worship (ārādhana), aligning with Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-leaning discipline where inner transformation supports mantra, pūjā, and contemplative focus on Īśvara.

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

With Kurma (a form of Vishnu) commending worship of Īśāna/Mahādeva, the text models reverence across sectarian lines, presenting devotion to Śiva as fully compatible with the Purana’s broader non-dual, Īśvara-centered vision.