Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 21

Kapālamocana: The Cutting of Brahmā’s Fifth Head, Śiva’s Kāpālika Vow, and Purification in Vārāṇasī

Devanagari script

अयं स भगवानीशः स्वयञ्ज्योतिः सनातनः / स्वानन्दभूता कथिता देवी नागन्तुका शिवा

Transliteration

ayaṃ sa bhagavānīśaḥ svayañjyotiḥ sanātanaḥ / svānandabhūtā kathitā devī nāgantukā śivā

Translation

祂确是至福的主、自在天（Īśa）——自明之光，恒常不灭。祂的女神（Devī）被宣说为祂自身喜乐的本性——常吉祥的湿婆女神（Śivā），并非外来附加之物。

Word by Word

• ayam: this (one)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• bhagavān: the Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• īśaḥ: the Lord/Master
• īśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• svayam: self
• svayam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: स्वार्थक-अव्यय (reflexive adverb)

• jyotiḥ: light
• jyotiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyotis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• sanātanaḥ: eternal
• sanātanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanātana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• svānanda-bhūtā: whose nature is his own bliss
• svānanda-bhūtā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva + ānanda + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (‘स्वस्य आनन्दः’ + भूत (PPP of √bhū) used adjectivally)

• kathitā: is called/said
• kathitā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kathita (कृदन्त; √kath)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), कर्मणि-प्रयोग: ‘is said/called’

• devī: the Goddess
• devī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• āgantukā: adventitious/coming from outside
• āgantukā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āgantuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• śivā: Śivā (consort of Śiva)
• śivā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (as the teacher of the Ishvara Gita-style doctrine in the Kurma Purana)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Isha
• Bhagavan
• Devi
• Shiva (as Śivā—auspicious Śakti)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as svayaṁjyoti—self-revealing, eternal consciousness that needs no external illumination; divinity is intrinsic, not dependent on anything adventitious.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports contemplative absorption (dhyāna/samādhi) on Īśvara as self-luminous reality, and on Śakti as inseparable from that consciousness—an inner orientation consistent with Pāśupata-style devotion and disciplined meditation.

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

By using Īśa and Śivā in a teaching voiced by Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu), it frames auspicious Śiva-principle and Viṣṇu’s lordship as one integrated theistic reality, with Śakti inseparable from the Supreme.