Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

Kali-yuga Doṣas, the Supremacy of Rudra as Refuge, and the Closure of the Manvantara Teaching

Devanagari script

एवंविधे कलियुगे दोषाणामेकशोधनम् / महादेवनमस्कारो ध्यानं दानमिति श्रुतिः

Transliteration

evaṃvidhe kaliyuge doṣāṇāmekaśodhanam / mahādevanamaskāro dhyānaṃ dānamiti śrutiḥ

Translation

在如此的迦利时代，净除过失唯有一法：恭敬礼拜摩诃提婆（Mahādeva），并修持禅观与布施——圣传（Śruti）如是宣说。

Word by Word

• evaṃ-vidhe: in such (a)
• evaṃ-vidhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: evaṃ (अव्यय) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/Locative); एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (of such a kind)

• kali-yuge: in the Kali age
• kali-yuge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kali (प्रातिपदिक) + yuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/Locative); एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (Kali-age)

• doṣāṇām: of faults
• doṣāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: doṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); बहुवचन (Plural)

• eka-śodhanam: the sole purification
• eka-śodhanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + śodhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (single purification/sole expiation)

• mahā-deva-namaskāraḥ: salutation to Mahādeva
• mahā-deva-namaskāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक) + namaskāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (salutation to Mahādeva)

• dhyānam: meditation
• dhyānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• dānam: gift/charity
• dānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyasaṃbandha (वाक्यसम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-समाप्त्यर्थक/उद्धरणचिह्न (quotative particle)

• śrutiḥ: scriptural statement
• śrutiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śruti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/Indradyumna in a Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Kali-yuga
• Mahadeva (Shiva)
• Shruti

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that inner purification in Kali-yuga is achieved through focused devotion and contemplation; by bowing to Mahādeva and practicing dhyāna, the mind becomes fit to recognize the Self beyond doṣas (defilements).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights dhyāna (meditative absorption) supported by devotional discipline (Mahādeva-namaskāra) and ethical action (dāna). Together they function as a practical Kali-yuga sādhanā aligned with Pāśupata-oriented purification.

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

With Kurma (a Vishnu form) presenting reverence to Mahādeva as a chief purifier, the Purāṇa advances a harmony model: devotion to Shiva is affirmed within a Vaishnava narration, reflecting a non-sectarian, synthesizing theology.