Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 71

Brahmā’s Lotus-Birth, the Sealing of the Cosmic Womb, and the Epiphany of Parameśvara

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

भगवन् भूतभव्येश महादेवाम्बिकापते / त्वामेव पुत्रमिच्छामि त्वया वा सदृशं सतम्

Transliteration

bhagavan bhūtabhavyeśa mahādevāmbikāpate / tvāmeva putramicchāmi tvayā vā sadṛśaṃ satam

Translation

噢，具福的主宰，统御过去与未来者，大天（Mahādeva）、安比迦（Ambikā）之配——我唯愿你亲自为我之子；若不然，愿得一位真正如你般贤善的儿子。

Word by Word

• भगवन्: O Lord
• भगवन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; address-form of भगवत्

• भूत-भव्य-ईश: O Lord of past and future
• भूत-भव्य-ईश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + भव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—भूतभव्ययोः ईशः

• महादेव-अम्बिका-पते: O husband of Ambikā, O Mahādeva
• महादेव-अम्बिका-पते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बिका (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—महादेवस्य अम्बिकायाः पतिः

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात-बल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• पुत्रम्: a son
• पुत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• इच्छामि: I desire
• इच्छामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्वया: by/like you
• त्वया: Karana/Upamāna-sambandha (करण/उपमान-संबन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle)

• सदृशम्: similar
• सदृशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying पुत्रम्)

• सताम्: of the virtuous
• सताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; ‘सत्’ = good/virtuous persons

Speaker

A devotee/king petitioning Lord Shiva (Mahadeva) for a boon (contextual speaker within Purva-bhaga narrative)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Mahadeva)
• Ambika (Parvati)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By addressing Śiva as the Lord of past and future, the verse implies a transcendent, time-surpassing sovereignty—an indicator of the supreme principle that devotees approach as the highest reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds bhakti-yoga through single-pointed intention (ekāgratā) and surrender: the devotee’s desire is aligned to the divine ideal—seeking either God Himself or a son reflecting God’s virtues.

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

Though Śiva is directly praised here, the Kurma Purana’s wider Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis treats devotion to Śiva as compatible with the same supreme reality taught elsewhere (including the Ishvara Gita), emphasizing unity of divine lordship rather than sectarian opposition.