Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तो भगवता किरीटी श्वेतवाहनः / बभार परमां भक्तिमीशाने ऽव्यभिचारिणीम्

Transliteration

evamukto bhagavatā kirīṭī śvetavāhanaḥ / babhāra paramāṃ bhaktimīśāne 'vyabhicāriṇīm

Translation

蒙世尊如是开示后，那位戴冠的英雄——乘白色坐骑——便生起对伊舍那（主宰）至高而不移的虔敬之心。

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb of manner)

• उक्तः: addressed / spoken to
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता) (of implied state; agrees with subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘having been spoken to’

• भगवता: by the Lord
• भगवता: Karta (कर्ता) (agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; instrumental ‘by the Lord’

• किरीटी: the crown-wearer (Arjuna)
• किरीटी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरीटिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘the diadem-wearer’

• श्वेतवाहनः: having a white vehicle/steed
• श्वेतवाहनः: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेत-वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: श्वेतः वाहनः यस्य/श्वेतं वाहनं यस्य (epithet)

• बभार: bore / held
• बभार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘he bore/held’

• परमाम्: supreme
• परमाम्: Karma (कर्म) (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies भक्ति)

• भक्तिम्: devotion
• भक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; object of verb

• ईशाने: in/for Īśāna (Śiva)
• ईशाने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative ‘in/for Īśāna (Śiva)’

• अव्यभिचारिणीम्: unfaltering / unwavering
• अव्यभिचारिणीम्: Karma (कर्म) (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यभिचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नञ्-उपसर्गयुक्त विशेषण; qualifies भक्ति

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator continuing the account after the Lord’s instruction)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (the Blessed Lord)
• Īśāna (Śiva)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By emphasizing avyabhicāriṇī-bhakti (non-deviating devotion) to Īśāna, the verse points to single-pointed orientation toward the Supreme Lord as the stabilizing center of consciousness—an approach that supports inner steadiness conducive to realizing the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights the inner discipline of exclusivity and steadiness (avyabhicāra) in devotion—akin to ekāgratā (one-pointedness). In the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis, such unwavering bhakti functions as a practical limb supporting meditative absorption and Pāśupata-oriented worship of Īśāna.

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

A “Bhagavān” instructs, and the result is devotion directed to Īśāna (Śiva), reflecting the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: devotion to one Supreme Lord is not sectarian but harmonized—Śiva and Viṣṇu are approached as convergent expressions of īśvaratva (Lordship).