Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī

Devanagari script

इहाराध्य महादेवं सावर्णिस्तपतां वरः / लब्धवान् परमं योगं ग्रन्थकारत्वमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

ihārādhya mahādevaṃ sāvarṇistapatāṃ varaḥ / labdhavān paramaṃ yogaṃ granthakāratvamuttamam

Translation

在此礼敬摩诃提婆之后，萨瓦尔尼（Sāvarṇi）——诸苦行者之最胜——证得至上瑜伽，并获得撰著圣典论书的最高成就。

Word by Word

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• आराध्य: having worshipped
• आराध्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-rādh (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having worshipped/propitiated’

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahādeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् देवः)

• सावर्णिः: Sāvarṇi
• सावर्णिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāvarṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• तपताम्: of ascetics (those doing austerity)
• तपताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapat (प्रातिपदिक; शतृ-कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle used substantively) ‘those who perform tapas’; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• वरः: the best
• वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; ‘सावर्णिः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• लब्धवान्: obtained
• लब्धवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; ‘योगम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• योगम्: yoga
• योगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• ग्रन्थकारत्वम्: the status of being an author
• ग्रन्थकारत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: grantha + kāra + tva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ग्रन्थस्य कारः → ग्रन्थकारः; तस्य भावः = -त्व)

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; ‘ग्रन्थकारत्वम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in Purāṇic narration

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mahadeva (Shiva)
• Savarni

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By stating that worship of Mahādeva yields “supreme Yoga,” the verse implies realization through union (yoga) with the highest principle—where disciplined devotion culminates in direct spiritual attainment rather than mere ritual merit.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds ārādhana (devotional propitiation) supported by tapas (ascetic discipline) as the pathway to parama-yoga—aligned with the Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-leaning emphasis on Śiva-focused practice leading to inner integration and liberation-oriented knowledge.

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

With Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) praising the fruits of worshipping Mahādeva (Śiva), the Purāṇa reinforces its synthetic stance: devotion to Śiva is affirmed within a Vaiṣṇava narrative voice, pointing to a non-sectarian, unity-oriented theology.