Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 57

Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rudra’s Samanvaya Teaching

Maṅkaṇaka Episode

Devanagari script

आलिङ्ग्य भक्तं प्रणतं देवदेवः स्वयंशिवः / न भेतव्यं त्वया वत्स प्राह किं ते ददाम्यहम्

Transliteration

āliṅgya bhaktaṃ praṇataṃ devadevaḥ svayaṃśivaḥ / na bhetavyaṃ tvayā vatsa prāha kiṃ te dadāmyaham

Translation

神中之神——亲自的湿婆——拥抱那俯首礼拜的虔信者，说道：“孩子，莫要畏惧。告诉我——你愿我赐你何物？”

Word by Word

• आलिङ्ग्य: having embraced
• आलिङ्ग्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-लिङ्ग् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• भक्तम्: the devotee
• भक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• प्रणतम्: bowed down
• प्रणतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of भक्तम्

• देवदेवः: the god of gods
• देवदेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानां देवः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्वयंशिवः: Shiva himself
• स्वयंशिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय) + शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (स्वयं शिवः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to देवदेवः

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• भेतव्यम्: (there is) no need to fear / should not be feared
• भेतव्यम्: Vidhi/Anujñā (विधि/अनुज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भी (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligation), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भावे प्रयोगः (impersonal: 'it should be feared')

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Kartṛ-karaṇa (कर्ता-करण; agent in impersonal construction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, त्रितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• वत्स: dear child
• वत्स: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह्/अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; interrogative

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive/Dative singular); here चतुर्थी (recipient)

• ददामि: I give
• ददामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Śiva (Devadeva, Svayaṃśiva)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devadeva
• Bhakta

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By depicting Śiva as the compassionate Lord who removes fear and grants boons, the verse points to the Supreme as both transcendent and personally accessible—one who responds to surrender, implying that fear dissolves when the self takes refuge in the highest reality (Īśvara).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes bhakti as a direct spiritual discipline: praṇāma (humble prostration), inner surrender (śaraṇāgati), and trust in Īśvara’s protection (abhaya). In the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva framework, such devotion supports steadiness of mind that complements Pāśupata-oriented restraint and contemplation.

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

The Kurma Purana often presents a synthetic vision where the Supreme is honored through different divine forms; here, Śiva as “Devadeva” embodies the same ultimate lordship revered elsewhere as Viṣṇu/Kūrma—highlighting functional unity through shared attributes of grace, protection, and bestowal.