Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

Sapta-dvīpa Cosmography and the Vision of Śvetadvīpa–Vaikuṇṭha

Devanagari script

अर्चयन्ति महादेवं यज्ञदानसमाधिभिः / व्रतोपवासैर्विविधैर्हेमैः स्वाध्यायतर्पणैः

Transliteration

arcayanti mahādevaṃ yajñadānasamādhibhiḥ / vratopavāsairvividhairhemaiḥ svādhyāyatarpaṇaiḥ

Translation

他们以祭祀（yajña）、布施与三昧之定来礼敬大天（Mahādeva）；以种种誓戒与斋戒；以黄金供养；并以诵习圣典（svādhyāya）与作满足供（tarpaṇa）而奉事。

Word by Word

• अर्चयन्ति: they worship
• अर्चयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् देवः)

• यज्ञदानसमाधिभिः: by sacrifices, gifts, and meditations
• यज्ञदानसमाधिभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ + दान + समाधि (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (यज्ञैः दानैः समाधिभिः)

• व्रतोपवासैः: by vows and fasts
• व्रतोपवासैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत + उपवास (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (व्रतैः उपवासैः)

• विविधैः: various
• विविधैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the means)

• हेमैः: with gold (offerings)
• हेमैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्वाध्यायतर्पणैः: by self-study and libations/satiations
• स्वाध्यायतर्पणैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय + तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (स्वाध्यायैः तर्पणैः)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) describing the approved modes of Śiva-worship within Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mahadeva
• Shiva

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By listing yajña, dāna, and samādhi as valid approaches to Mahādeva, the verse implies that realization is supported by both outer dharma and inner yoga—pointing toward the inner Self approached through samādhi, not merely external rite.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The explicit practice is samādhi—meditative absorption—presented alongside vows, fasting, and scriptural self-study, indicating a Kurma Purana-style integration of Yoga-shāstra with Vaidika observance.

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

With Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) commending worship of Mahādeva, the Purāṇa frames devotion as complementary rather than sectarian, supporting a non-competitive Shaiva–Vaishnava unity in practice.