Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Oṅkāra-Liṅga and the Secret Pañcāyatana Liṅgas of Kāśī: Kṛttivāseśvara-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

हत्वा गजाकृतिं दैत्यं शूलेनावज्ञया हरः / वसस्तस्याकरोत् कृत्तिं कृत्तिवासेश्वरस्ततः

Transliteration

hatvā gajākṛtiṃ daityaṃ śūlenāvajñayā haraḥ / vasastasyākarot kṛttiṃ kṛttivāseśvarastataḥ

Translation

哈罗（湿婆）以三叉戟诛杀那化作大象的阿修罗，示以轻蔑；并以其皮为衣披身。故主神得名“克利提瓦萨”——披皮衣者。

Word by Word

• हत्वा: having killed
• हत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) + क्त्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having slain)

• गज-आकृतिम्: elephant-form
• गज-आकृतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक) + आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गजस्य आकृतिः = elephant-form)

• दैत्यम्: the demon
• दैत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शूलेन: with a trident
• शूलेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन

• अवज्ञया: with contempt
• अवज्ञया: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन; हेतौ/भावे (by contempt/with disdain)

• हरः: Hara (Śiva)
• हरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वसः: dwelling
• वसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु) + शतृ (वर्तमानकृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (dwelling/while dwelling)

• तस्य: of him/there
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुं/नपुं; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अकरोत्: made, did
• अकरोत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कृत्तिम्: a hide/skin
• कृत्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृत्तिवासेश्वरः: Kṛttivāseśvara
• कृत्तिवासेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्ति + वास + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कृत्तिवासस्य ईश्वरः)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/कारणवाचक (then/thereupon)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration attributed to Vyāsa’s discourse tradition)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Hara (Shiva)
• Daitya
• Shula (Trident)
• Krittivasa

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it portrays Īśvara as the protector who subdues adharma; the divine identity (here Śiva as Hara) is expressed through a concrete līlā and a sacred epithet, pointing to the one Lord who manifests attributes for the world’s order.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit technique is taught in this verse; however, Kṛttivāsa (wearing a hide) evokes Śiva’s ascetic, renunciant symbolism—often linked in the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva teaching milieu to vairāgya (dispassion) and mastery over fear and ego.

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

While the verse centers on Śiva, the Kurma Purana’s overall frame (spoken within a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa) normalizes Śiva’s supremacy-in-function as part of a unified Īśvara-tattva, supporting the text’s Shaiva–Vaiṣṇava synthesis rather than sectarian separation.