Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 103

Devadāru (Dāruvana) Forest: The Delusion of Ritual Pride, the Liṅga Crisis, and the Teaching of Jñāna–Pāśupata Yoga

Devanagari script

कृत्वा गिरिसुतां गौरीं पार्श्वेदेवः पिनाकधृक् / सा च पूर्ववद् देवेशी देवदारुवनं गता

Transliteration

kṛtvā girisutāṃ gaurīṃ pārśvedevaḥ pinākadhṛk / sā ca pūrvavad deveśī devadāruvanaṃ gatā

Translation

执持毗那迦神弓的湿婆——在彼处名为“帕尔什瓦天”——化现出高丽，山岳之女。那位女神、诸天之主母，又如先前一般，再次前往雪松林（Devadāru）之森。

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); अव्ययभाव

• गिरिसुताम्: the mountain’s daughter
• गिरिसुताम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक) + सुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (giri-sutā = 'daughter of the mountain')

• गौरीम्: Gaurī
• गौरीम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; (apposition to girisutām)

• पार्श्वे: at the side
• पार्श्वे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, एकवचन

• देवः: the god
• देवः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पिनाकधृक्: bearer of the Pināka (Śiva)
• पिनाकधृक्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिनाक (प्रातिपदिक) + धृ (धातु) → धृक् (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (pinākaṃ dharati iti)

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• पूर्ववत्: as before
• पूर्ववत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तुल्यतावाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (as before)

• देवेशी: goddess, mistress of the gods
• देवेशी: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + ईशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (devasya īśī)

• देवदारुवनम्: the deodar forest
• देवदारुवनम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवदारु (प्रातिपदिक) + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (devadāruṇāṃ vanam)

• गता: went
• गता: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; (predicate with sā/deveśī)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting the Śiva–Devadāruvana episode to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Gaurī (Pārvatī)
• Pārśvadeva
• Pināka
• Devadāruvana

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it presents Īśvara’s sovereignty: Śiva freely manifests forms (Śakti as Gaurī) without loss of transcendence, hinting that the Supreme Self remains unchanged while projecting power and appearance.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No technique is stated explicitly; however, the verse supports a Pāśupata-style devotional orientation where contemplation of Īśvara together with Śakti (Śiva–Gaurī unity) is foundational for inner discipline and purification.

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

Within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, Śiva’s lordship and creative power are narrated in a way compatible with the Purāṇa’s broader non-sectarian theology—honoring Śiva’s supremacy in this episode while the text as a whole upholds unity of the one Īśvara across names and forms.