Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

प्रपद्ये ऽहं विरूपाक्षं शरण्यं ब्रह्मचारिणम् / महादेवं महायोगमीशानं चाम्बिकापतिम्

Transliteration

prapadye 'haṃ virūpākṣaṃ śaraṇyaṃ brahmacāriṇam / mahādevaṃ mahāyogamīśānaṃ cāmbikāpatim

Translation

我皈依毗卢帕叉（Virūpākṣa）——可依怙的慈护者、持梵行的苦行者；我皈依大天（Mahādeva）、大瑜伽师、伊沙那（Īśāna）主宰，以及安比迦（Ambikā）之夫。

Word by Word

• prapadye: I take refuge; I resort to
• prapadye: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+pad (प्र+पद् धातु)
• Form: Present tense: Laṭ (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular; Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (1st), Singular

• virūpākṣam: Virūpākṣa (odd-eyed)
• virūpākṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: virūpākṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; samāsa: vi-rūpa + akṣa (one whose eyes are of unusual form)

• śaraṇyam: worthy of refuge
• śaraṇyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaraṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; adjective qualifying the object

• brahmacāriṇam: the brahmacārin (celibate/ascetic)
• brahmacāriṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmacārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; samāsa: brahma + cārin (one who practices brahmacarya)

• mahādevam: Mahādeva
• mahādevam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahādeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• mahāyogam: the great yogin / great yoga
• mahāyogam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahāyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; used as epithet

• īśānam: Īśāna (the Lord)
• īśānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• ambikāpatim: the lord of Ambikā
• ambikāpatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambikā-pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; samāsa: ambikāyāḥ patiḥ (genitive tatpuruṣa)

Speaker

A devotee/narrative voice offering a hymn of surrender to Śiva within the Kurma Purana’s Purva-bhaga discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Virupaksha
• Mahadeva
• Ishana
• Ambika (Parvati)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By naming Śiva as Īśāna (the Lord) and Mahāyogin, the verse points to the Supreme as the inner ruler realized through Yoga—one who is approached through surrender (śaraṇāgati) rather than mere ritual identity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The epithet “Mahāyoga/Mahāyogin” frames Śiva as the archetype of yogic absorption, while “brahmacārin” emphasizes discipline, restraint, and ascetic purity—core prerequisites in Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā and classical Yoga ethics.

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

Within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, taking refuge in Śiva as supreme Lord supports the broader non-sectarian teaching that the highest reality is approached through devotion and Yoga, allowing Śiva and Viṣṇu to be read as convergent manifestations of one Īśvara.