Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 29
Naimiṣa-kṣetra-prādurbhāva and Jāpyeśvara-māhātmya — Nandī’s Birth, Japa, and Consecration
तस्य कोट्यां तु पूर्णायां शङ्करो भक्तवत्सलः / आगत्य साम्बः सगणो वरदो ऽस्मीत्युवाच ह
tasya koṭyāṃ tu pūrṇāyāṃ śaṅkaro bhaktavatsalaḥ / āgatya sāmbaḥ sagaṇo varado 'smītyuvāca ha
Khi đủ một koṭi (một ức) lần, Śaṅkara—đấng thương yêu người mộ đạo—đã đến đó trong hình tướng Sāmba, cùng đoàn tùy chúng (gaṇa), và phán: “Ta là Đấng ban ân phúc.”
Narrator (Purāṇic narrator recounting Śiva’s appearance)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It emphasizes the accessible, grace-bestowing aspect of Īśvara: the Supreme responds to disciplined devotion and manifests tangibly as the boon-giver, indicating a personal (saguṇa) doorway to realization.
The verse points to sustained japa/vrata-based discipline reaching completion (“koṭyāṃ…pūrṇāyām”), a hallmark of Purāṇic sādhana aligned with Pāśupata-style devotion where perseverance culminates in divine anugraha (grace).
Within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, Śiva appears as the compassionate Lord who rewards devotion—complementing Viṣṇu/Kūrma’s overarching teaching that the one Īśvara supports multiple forms for devotees, reinforcing practical non-sectarian unity.