Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 50

Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rudra’s Samanvaya Teaching

Maṅkaṇaka Episode

Devanagari script

पश्येमं मच्छरीरोत्थं भस्मराशिं द्विजोत्तम / माहात्म्यमेतत् तपसस्त्वादृशो ऽन्यो ऽपि विद्यते

Transliteration

paśyemaṃ maccharīrotthaṃ bhasmarāśiṃ dvijottama / māhātmyametat tapasastvādṛśo 'nyo 'pi vidyate

Translation

“婆罗门中之最啊，观此由我自身所生的灰烬之堆。此即苦行之大威德；确有如你一般具此灵力者。”

Word by Word

• पश्य: see
• पश्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश्/दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• मत्-शरीर-उत्थम्: arisen from my body
• मत्-शरीर-उत्थम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम) + शरीर (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (arisen from my body)

• भस्मराशिम्: heap of ashes
• भस्मराशिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्म-राशि (प्रातिपदिक); भस्म + राशि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• द्विजोत्तम: O best of Brahmins
• द्विजोत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज-उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक); द्विज + उत्तम
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (best of the twice-born)

• माहात्म्यम्: greatness
• माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; demonstrative

• तपसः: of austerity
• तपसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• त्वादृशः: one like you
• त्वादृशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘one like you’

• अन्यः: another
• अन्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (even/also)

• विद्यते: exists
• विद्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; ‘exists/is found’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) addressing a brahmin sage (dvijottama)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma (Vishnu)
• Dvijottama (Brahmin sage)
• Tapas

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By showing even the Lord’s embodied form as transformable into ashes, the verse points to the distinction between perishable embodiment and the imperishable spiritual reality, emphasizing tapas as a means to realize what is beyond mere body.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights tapas—disciplined austerity and inner heat—as a core limb of Purāṇic Yoga practice, consistent with Pāśupata-style emphasis on self-restraint, endurance, and concentrated spiritual effort leading to siddhi and insight.

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

Though spoken by Vishnu as Kurma, the stress on bhasma (sacred ash) and tapas resonates with Shaiva ascetic symbolism, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where Vaishnava revelation affirms Shaiva yogic ideals.