Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 81

Adhyāya 25 — Liṅga-māhātmya (The Chapter on the Liṅga): Hari’s Śiva-Worship and the Fiery Pillar Theophany

Devanagari script

प्रलयार्णवसंस्थाय प्रलयोद्भूतिहेतवे / नमः शिवाय शान्ताय ब्रह्मणे लिङ्गमूर्तये

Transliteration

pralayārṇavasaṃsthāya pralayodbhūtihetave / namaḥ śivāya śāntāya brahmaṇe liṅgamūrtaye

Translation

顶礼寂静吉祥的湿婆：安住于劫灭之海，为劫灭后再生之因；顶礼梵本身，示现为林伽之形。

Word by Word

• प्रलय-अर्णव-संस्थाय: to the one abiding in the ocean of dissolution
• प्रलय-अर्णव-संस्थाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलय (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रलयस्य अर्णवः → प्रलयार्णवः; तस्मिन् संस्थाः/संस्था यस्य)

• प्रलय-उद्भूति-हेतवे: to the cause of the arising of dissolution
• प्रलय-उद्भूति-हेतवे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलय (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भूति (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रलयस्य उद्भूतिः; तस्य हेतुः)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Prayojana/भाव (भावार्थक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/उद्गार); नमः-शब्दः दत्तिवाचकः, चतुर्थ्यर्थे प्रयोगः

• शिवाय: to Śiva
• शिवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• शान्ताय: to the peaceful one
• शान्ताय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक; √शम् (धातु) से निष्पन्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (शिवस्य)

• ब्रह्मणे: to Brahman (the Absolute)
• ब्रह्मणे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; नकारान्त-प्रातिपदिक (ब्रह्मन्)

• लिङ्ग-मूर्तये: to the one whose form is the liṅga
• लिङ्ग-मूर्तये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लिङ्गस्य मूर्तिः)

Speaker

Narratorial/Devotional voice within the Purāṇic hymn (stuti) section addressing Lord Śiva

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahman
• Linga
• Pralaya

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies Śiva with Brahman itself—peaceful, absolute, and the causal ground behind both dissolution (pralaya) and renewed manifestation—implying the Supreme reality is one, beyond change, yet the source of cosmic cycles.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports contemplative meditation on the Liṅga as a symbol (liṅga) of Brahman—using devotion (stuti), inner stillness (śānti), and causal contemplation of creation–dissolution as aids to concentration typical of Śaiva-Pāśupata oriented practice.

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

By calling Śiva “Brahman” and portraying him as the cosmic cause, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the supreme reality is one, expressed through Śiva-Viṣṇu forms rather than competing divinities.