Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

Madhu–Kaiṭabha, Nārāyaṇa’s Yoga-Nidrā, Rudra’s Manifestation, and the Aṣṭamūrti–Trimūrti Teaching

Devanagari script

नमो ऽस्तु ते महेशाय नमः शान्ताय हेतवे / प्रधानपुरुषेशाय योगाधिपतये नमः

Transliteration

namo 'stu te maheśāya namaḥ śāntāya hetave / pradhānapuruṣeśāya yogādhipataye namaḥ

Translation

顶礼大自在天（Mahēśvara）！顶礼安寂者、至上因！顶礼主宰原质 Pradhāna 与灵觉 Puruṣa 者；顶礼瑜伽之至尊主宰！

Word by Word

• namaḥ: salutation; homage
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), indeclinable interjection/particle used in salutation (नमः-प्रयोग)

• astu: may it be
• astu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्, imperative/benedictive sense), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• maheśāya: to Maheśa (Great Lord)
• maheśāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), salutation particle (नमः)

• śāntāya: to the peaceful one
• śāntāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); adjective used substantively (विशेषण-प्रयोग)

• hetave: to the cause
• hetave: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• pradhāna-puruṣa-īśāya: to the Lord of Pradhāna and Puruṣa
• pradhāna-puruṣa-īśāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradhāna (प्रातिपदिक) + puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa sense: 'lord of pradhāna and puruṣa' (प्रधानपुरुषयोः ईशः)

• yoga-adhipataye: to the Lord of Yoga
• yoga-adhipataye: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: 'lord of yoga' (योगस्य अधिपतिः)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), salutation particle (नमः)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching within the Ishvara Gita framework (a Śiva-stuti expressing Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Maheshvara
• Shiva
• Pradhana
• Purusha
• Yoga

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By praising Mahēśvara as the ultimate Hetu (Cause) and as Lord over both Pradhāna and Puruṣa, the verse points to a supreme Ishvara who transcends yet governs Nature and Consciousness—implying the highest Self as the source and ruler of all ontological principles.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse does not list techniques, but it frames Yoga as an Ishvara-governed discipline: Mahēśvara is Yogādhipati, indicating that yogic realization culminates in surrender, contemplation, and alignment with the supreme Lord who grants peace (śānti) and mastery over the guṇas of Pradhāna.

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

Placed within the Kurma Purana’s Ishvara Gita setting (spoken through Lord Kurma), the hymn to Mahēśvara models the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: Vishnu (as Kurma) extols Shiva as the supreme Lord, presenting a unified Ishvara beyond rigid Shaiva–Vaishnava division.