Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 43

Dāna-dharma: Types of Charity, Worthy Recipients, Vrata-Timings, and Śiva–Viṣṇu Propitiation

Devanagari script

ये वाञ्छन्ति महायोगान् ज्ञानानि च महेश्वरम् / ते पूजयन्ति भूतेशं केशवं चापि भोगिनः

Transliteration

ye vāñchanti mahāyogān jñānāni ca maheśvaram / te pūjayanti bhūteśaṃ keśavaṃ cāpi bhoginaḥ

Translation

凡渴慕大瑜伽、解脱之智，并向往大自在天（Maheśvara）者——那些圆满人生诸义者——皆礼敬布提沙（Bhūteśa）并亦礼敬凯沙瓦（Keśava）。

Word by Word

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• वाञ्छन्ति: desire
• वाञ्छन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वाञ्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• महायोगान्: great yogas / great yogic attainments
• महायोगान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् योगः)

• ज्ञानानि: knowledges
• ज्ञानानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महेश्वरम्: Maheśvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• पूजयन्ति: worship
• पूजयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• भूतेशम्: Bhūteśa (Lord of beings, Śiva)
• भूतेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भूतानाम् ईशः)

• केशवम्: Keśava (Viṣṇu)
• केशवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय; अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• भोगिनः: enjoyers (worldly people)
• भोगिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching a Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Maheśvara
• Bhūteśa
• Keśava
• Śiva
• Viṣṇu

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By pairing Maheśvara (Śiva) with Keśava (Viṣṇu) as rightful objects of worship for yoga and jñāna, the verse implies a single supreme reality approached through complementary divine forms—pointing toward non-sectarian, unified lordship as the ground of realization.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds “mahāyoga” as the goal—advanced yogic discipline supported by devotion (pūjā) to the Lord. In the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava framework, worship functions as a preparatory and sustaining limb for higher yogic absorption and liberating knowledge.

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

It presents Bhūteśa (Śiva) and Keśava (Viṣṇu) together as objects of worship for the same highest aims, signaling harmony and functional unity rather than rivalry—typical of the Kurma Purana’s synthesizing theology.