Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

Sūrya-vaṃśa Genealogy and the Supremacy of Tapas: Gāyatrī-Japa, Rudra-Darśana, and Śatarudrīya Upadeśa

Devanagari script

पुलह उवाच यमाहुरेकं पुरुषं पुराणं परमेश्वरम् / तमाराध्य सहस्त्रांशुं तपसा मोक्षमाप्नुयात्

Transliteration

pulaha uvāca yamāhurekaṃ puruṣaṃ purāṇaṃ parameśvaram / tamārādhya sahastrāṃśuṃ tapasā mokṣamāpnuyāt

Translation

普拉哈说：人们宣说祂是一者、古老的至上之人（Puruṣa）、最高自在主；礼敬那千光之主，并以苦行（tapas）精进，便能证得解脱（mokṣa）。

Word by Word

• पुलहः: Pulaha
• पुलहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुलह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• यम्: whom
• यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• आहुः: they call/say
• आहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Karma-visheshana (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• पुरुषम्: person; Puruṣa
• पुरुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पुराणम्: ancient
• पुराणम्: Karma-visheshana (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• परमेश्वरम्: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (परमः ईश्वरः)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आराध्य: having worshipped
• आराध्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-राध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त, अव्ययभाव

• सहस्रांशुम्: the thousand-rayed one (Sun-like)
• सहस्रांशुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र-अंशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (सहस्राः अंशवः यस्य)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• मोक्षम्: liberation
• मोक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आप्नुयात्: may attain
• आप्नुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sage Pulaha

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Pulaha
• Parameśvara
• Puruṣa (Primordial Person)
• Sahasrāṃśu (Thousand-rayed Lord)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to the Supreme as “ekaḥ puruṣaḥ purāṇaḥ parameśvaraḥ”—the one primordial Person and highest Lord—implying a single ultimate reality approached through devotion and disciplined practice.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes ārādhana (devotional worship) joined with tapas (austerity and disciplined restraint), a foundational method aligned with Kurma Purana’s yoga-śāstra tone where purification, concentration, and devotion mature into mokṣa.

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

By using the inclusive title “Parameśvara” and describing a single Supreme Person, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic outlook: sectarian names differ, but liberation comes from worship of the one supreme Lord manifesting through multiple forms.