Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

आसीनमासने रम्ये नानाश्चर्यसमन्विते / प्रभासहस्रकलिले ज्ञानैश्वर्यादिसंयुते

Transliteration

āsīnamāsane ramye nānāścaryasamanvite / prabhāsahasrakalile jñānaiśvaryādisaṃyute

Translation

祂端坐于妙丽宝座，具足种种奇瑞；周身浸润千重光辉，并圆满具足智慧、自在主权与诸般神圣德相。

Word by Word

• आसीनम्: seated
• आसीनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आस् (धातु) → आसीन (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आसने: on a seat
• आसने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• रम्ये: beautiful
• रम्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (आसने)

• नाना: various
• नाना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिकवत्)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषणार्थे (various)

• आश्चर्य-समन्विते: endowed with wonders
• आश्चर्य-समन्विते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आश्चर्य-समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक); आश्चर्य + समन्वित (सम्-अन्वि-इ धातुज क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (आश्चर्यैः समन्वितम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (आसने)

• प्रभा-सहस्र-कलिले: filled with a thousand splendors
• प्रभा-सहस्र-कलिले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रभा + सहस्र + कलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (सहस्रप्रभाभिः कलिलम्/व्याप्तम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (आसने)

• ज्ञान-ऐश्वर्य-आदि-संयुते: endowed with knowledge, lordship, etc.
• ज्ञान-ऐश्वर्य-आदि-संयुते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान + ऐश्वर्य + आदि + संयुत (प्रातिपदिक; सम्-युज् धातुज क्त)
• Form: समाहार-तत्पुरुषसमासः (ज्ञानादिभिः संयुतम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (आसने)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration describing the Lord’s manifested form in the dialogue setting of the Upari-bhaga/Ishvara-Gita frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara (the Lord)
• Divine throne (āsana)
• Jñāna (knowledge)
• Aiśvarya (sovereignty)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It portrays the Supreme as Īśvara—manifesting unsurpassed splendor while remaining essentially characterized by jñāna (spiritual knowledge) and aiśvarya (sovereign lordship), indicating a conscious, self-luminous reality that can be directly “seen” in divine revelation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports īśvara-dhyāna: contemplation on the Lord’s radiant form and attributes (jñāna, aiśvarya, etc.), a common Purāṇic aid for steadiness of mind and devotion that complements Pāśupata-oriented discipline emphasized in the Kurma Purana’s Upari-bhaga.

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

By describing Īśvara through universal divine qualities (jñāna, aiśvarya and allied excellences) rather than sectarian limitation, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthetic approach where the Supreme may be praised in forms associated with both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva revelation.