Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 148

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

Devanagari script

स्थापयध्वमिदं मार्गं पूजयध्वं महेश्वरम् / अचिरादैश्वरं ज्ञानमुत्पत्स्यति न संशयः

Transliteration

sthāpayadhvamidaṃ mārgaṃ pūjayadhvaṃ maheśvaram / acirādaiśvaraṃ jñānamutpatsyati na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

当建立此神圣之道，礼敬大自在天（Mahēśvara）。不久，出自主宰、由伊湿伐罗所赐的智慧必将生起——毫无疑虑。

Word by Word

• स्थापयध्वम्: establish (you all)
• स्थापयध्वम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (Imperative, 2nd pl)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘मार्गम्’ इति विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• मार्गम्: path
• मार्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• पूजयध्वम्: worship (you all)
• पूजयध्वम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (Imperative, 2nd pl)

• महेश्वरम्: Maheśvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (महा + ईश्वर), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• अचिरात्: soon
• अचिरात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अचिरात् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: soon/ere long)

• ऐश्वरम्: divine/lordly
• ऐश्वरम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘ज्ञानम्’ इति विशेषण (Neuter, Nominative singular)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• उत्पत्स्यति: will arise
• उत्पत्स्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + पद् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (भविष्यत्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Simple future, 3rd sg)

• न: no/not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Pradhana (प्रधान/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘न’ इत्यनेन निषिद्धः (Nominative singular)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing devotees/sages in a Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Maheshvara
• Ishvara
• Jnana
• Marga

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that liberating knowledge (jñāna) is not merely intellectual but ‘aiśvara’—arising by the grace and sovereignty of Īśvara—thereby revealing the Self through divinely grounded realization.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes establishing a disciplined spiritual mārga and practicing īśvara-pūjā (devotional-ritual worship) as a core Pāśupata-oriented means by which higher knowledge and steady inner transformation quickly arise.

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

By having Lord Kūrma (a form of Vishnu) direct worship to Mahēśvara (Shiva) as the source of aiśvara-jñāna, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian unity where devotion to Shiva is affirmed within a Vaishnava voice.