Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

नमस्त्रिमूर्तये तुभ्यं स्त्रष्ट्रे सर्वार्थवेदिने / पुरुषाय पुराणाय योगिनां गुरवे नमः

Transliteration

namastrimūrtaye tubhyaṃ straṣṭre sarvārthavedine / puruṣāya purāṇāya yogināṃ gurave namaḥ

Translation

顶礼于您，三相之主（Trimūrti）；顶礼于造物者，洞知一切义理与所求之果。顶礼于本初的普鲁沙（Puruṣa）、太古之尊，诸瑜伽行者之师。

Word by Word

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात (indeclinable interjection of salutation)

• tri-mūrtaye: to the three-formed (Trinity)
• tri-mūrtaye: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; त्रिमूर्तिः (to the three-formed one)

• tubhyam: to you
• tubhyam: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन (to you)

• sraṣṭre: to the creator
• sraṣṭre: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sraṣṭṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; स्रष्टृ (to the creator)

• sarva-artha-vedine: to the knower of all things/meanings
• sarva-artha-vedine: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + vedin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; सर्वार्थवेदिन् (to the knower of all meanings/things)

• puruṣāya: to the Supreme Person
• puruṣāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन (to the Person)

• purāṇāya: to the ancient one
• purāṇāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; विशेषण (ancient/primeval)

• yoginām: of yogins
• yoginām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (of yogins)

• gurave: to the guru
• gurave: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन (to the teacher)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात (indeclinable salutation)

Speaker

A devotee/sage offering a stuti (hymn) within the Kurma Purana narrative frame

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Trimurti
• Purusha
• Guru of Yogins

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the single Puruṣa who appears as the Trimūrti and as the all-knowing ground of every artha, implying one ultimate reality behind multiple divine functions.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes the Lord as “guru of yogins,” pointing to yoga as discipleship to the inner Teacher—knowledge (jñāna) and contemplative realization guided by Īśvara, consistent with Kurma Purana’s yoga-oriented theology.

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

By saluting the one Lord as Trimūrti, it frames Śiva and Viṣṇu (along with Brahmā) as unified expressions of a single Supreme, a hallmark of the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.