Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 19

Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rudra’s Samanvaya Teaching

Maṅkaṇaka Episode

Devanagari script

सुवर्णाक्षं महादेवं समभ्यर्च्य कपर्दिनम् / ब्राह्मणान् पूजयित्वा तु गाणपत्यं लभेद् ध्रुवम्

Transliteration

suvarṇākṣaṃ mahādevaṃ samabhyarcya kapardinam / brāhmaṇān pūjayitvā tu gāṇapatyaṃ labhed dhruvam

Translation

若如法礼拜摩诃提婆——金眼之主、卡帕尔丁（结发者）——继而恭敬供养婆罗门，必定获得“伽那帕提亚”之位，成为湿婆神圣眷属（伽那）的一员。

Word by Word

• सुवर्णाक्षम्: Suvarṇākṣa (golden-eyed; a name)
• सुवर्णाक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suvarṇa-akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg.); समासः कर्मधारयः (सुवर्णम् इव अक्षः/अक्षिणी यस्य/सुवर्णाक्षः—नाम)

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg.); समासः कर्मधारयः (महान् देवः)

• समभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• समभ्यर्च्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-abhi-arc (अर्च् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having duly worshipped’

• कपर्दिनम्: Kapardin (Śiva, the matted-haired)
• कपर्दिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapardin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg.)

• ब्राह्मणान्: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन (Acc. pl.)

• पूजयित्वा: having honoured
• पूजयित्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (पूज् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having worshipped/honoured’

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/विरोधार्थक निपात (particle: ‘indeed/but’)

• गाणपत्यम्: state/fruit of being (favoured by) Gaṇapati
• गाणपत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāṇapatya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg.)

• लभेत्: would obtain
• लभेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (लभ् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन (3rd sg.)

• ध्रुवम्: surely; certain
• ध्रुवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg.), विशेषण (of ‘गाणपत्यम्’)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s teaching on Śaiva worship and its fruits)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mahadeva (Shiva)
• Kapardin
• Brahmanas
• Ganas (Shiva’s attendants)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as approachable through īśvara-bhakti: worship of Mahādeva and dharmic honoring of brāhmaṇas becomes a practical path toward divine proximity (gaṇa-status), implying the Atman is realized through disciplined devotion and dharma-aligned conduct.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes bhakti-based discipline rather than a technical āsana-prāṇāyāma sequence: proper pūjā (samabhyarcya) and seva/arcana expressed as honoring brāhmaṇas—key supports in the Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-leaning devotional sādhanā.

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

Though Śiva is directly praised, the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis treats devotion to Śiva as fully dharmic and compatible with Vaiṣṇava revelation—showing a shared framework where worship of Īśvara (in Śaiva form here) yields exalted spiritual fruit.