Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74

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

Devanagari script

तमो यज्ञाधिपतये नमस्ते ब्रह्मचारिणे / मृगव्याधाय महते ब्रह्माधिपतये नमः

Transliteration

tamo yajñādhipataye namaste brahmacāriṇe / mṛgavyādhāya mahate brahmādhipataye namaḥ

Translation

礼敬您为昏暗之相（Tamas）、祭祀之主；礼敬您，大梵行者。礼敬您，威猛的猎鹿者；礼敬您，凌驾梵天之上的至上主宰。

Word by Word

• tamaḥ: darkness
• tamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; (पाठे 'tamo' = tamaḥ sandhi before vowel)

• yajña-adhipataye: to the lord of sacrifice
• yajña-adhipataye: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (yajñādhipati = 'lord of sacrifice')

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

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; चतुर्थी/षष्ठी एकवचनरूप (ते); अत्र प्रायः चतुर्थी (Dative) 'to you' (namas + te)

• brahmacāriṇe: to the celibate student; brahmacārin
• brahmacāriṇe: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmacārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mṛga-vyādhāya: to the hunter (of beasts)
• mṛga-vyādhāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + vyādha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (mṛgavyādha = 'hunter of deer/animals')

• mahate: to the great one
• mahate: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the addressed deity)

• brahma-adhipataye: to the lord of Brahman (Veda)
• brahma-adhipataye: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (brahmādhipati = 'lord of Brahman / lord of the Veda')

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

Speaker

A sage/narrator reciting a Rudra-stuti within the Kurma Purana’s Purva-bhaga discourse (devotional litany of divine epithets).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Pashupati)
• Yajña (Sacrifice)
• Brahmā

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By attributing even Tamas and the governance of yajña to the same Lord, the verse implies a single Supreme Reality that pervades both cosmic qualities (guṇas) and sacred order—yet remains the sovereign beyond them.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The epithet brahmacārin points to brahmacarya (celibacy, restraint, disciplined conduct) as a foundational sādhana aligned with Pāśupata/Śaiva ascetic ideals—purifying the practitioner for mantra, meditation, and worship.

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

The Kurma Purana often presents a theological synthesis: the one Supreme is praised through Rudra-names while also being the cosmic Lord behind yajña and creation, supporting a non-sectarian, unity-based reading of Śiva and Viṣṇu.