Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

दत्त्वास्मै तत् परं ज्ञानं वैराग्यं परमेश्वरः / क्षणादन्तर्दधे रुद्रस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्

Transliteration

dattvāsmai tat paraṃ jñānaṃ vairāgyaṃ parameśvaraḥ / kṣaṇādantardadhe rudrastadadbhutamivābhavat

Translation

至上主（帕拉梅湿伐罗）鲁陀罗赐予他无上正知与最胜离欲（vairāgya）；旋即顷刻隐没，此事诚然奇妙。

Word by Word

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त्वा (अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• अस्मै: to him
• अस्मै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/सामान्य, चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma-anvayi (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘ज्ञानम्/वैराग्यम्’ इत्यर्थे निर्देशक

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karma-anvayi (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘ज्ञानम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वैराग्यम्: dispassion
• वैराग्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैराग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘ज्ञानम्’ सह समुच्चितं कर्म

• परमेश्वरः: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (परमः ईश्वरः)

• क्षणात्: in a moment
• क्षणात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/time-point)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; ‘क्षणात्’ = क्षणमात्रेण

• अन्तर्दधे: disappeared
• अन्तर्दधे: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अन्तर्-धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तत्: that (event)
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अद्भुतम्’ इत्यस्य निर्देशः

• अद्भुतम्: wonderful; astonishing
• अद्भुतम्: Karta-anvayi (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘तत्’ इति विशेषणम्

• इव: as if
• इव: Upamana-marker (उपमानसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानसूचक (particle of comparison)

• अभवत्: became; happened
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting the episode within the Purāṇic dialogue

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Parameśvara
• Jñāna
• Vairāgya

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By pairing paraṃ jñāna (supreme liberating knowledge) with vairāgya (detachment), the verse implies realization of the Self is not mere information but direct insight that loosens identification with transient experience—opening the way to mokṣa.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to the core yogic prerequisites: jñāna and vairāgya. In the Kurma Purana’s spiritual framework (including Pāśupata-leaning discipline), detachment stabilizes the mind, while right knowledge—received through īśvara-anugraha (divine grace)—culminates in inner freedom.

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

It presents Rudra as Parameśvara, the supreme bestower of liberation-oriented knowledge, aligning with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis where the Supreme is one, expressed through forms like Śiva/Rudra and Viṣṇu/Kūrma for the uplift of devotees.