Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 49

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

Devanagari script

विलोक्य वेदपुरुषं प्रसन्नवदनं शुभम् / शिरोभिर्धरणीं गत्वा तोषयामासुरीश्वरम्

Transliteration

vilokya vedapuruṣaṃ prasannavadanaṃ śubham / śirobhirdharaṇīṃ gatvā toṣayāmāsurīśvaram

Translation

见到吠陀之人（Veda‑Puruṣa）吉祥而面容安然，她俯首稽首至地，以此令一切众生之主——自在天（Īśvara）欢喜满足。

Word by Word

• विलोक्य: having seen
• विलोक्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि-लोक् (धातु) → विलोक्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावरूप (gerund/absolutive); अव्यय

• वेद-पुरुषम्: the Veda-Puruṣa (personification of the Veda)
• वेद-पुरुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (वेदस्य पुरुषः); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• प्रसन्न-वदनम्: with a serene face
• प्रसन्न-वदनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमासः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वेदपुरुषम्)

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वेदपुरुषम्)

• शिरोभिः: with (their) heads
• शिरोभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• धरणीम्: the earth/ground
• धरणीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• गत्वा: having gone (to)
• गत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• तोषयामासुः: they pleased/satisfied
• तोषयामासुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष् (धातु) → तोषय (णिच् causative) + आमासुः
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथम), बहुवचन; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative)

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord
• ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the act of reverence toward the Lord)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Veda-Puruṣa
• Īśvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting Īśvara as the Veda‑Puruṣa (the living embodiment of Vedic revelation), the verse implies the Supreme as the sacred ground of knowledge and auspicious consciousness, approached through humility and recognition rather than mere argument.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The practice emphasized is devotion expressed as prostration (praṇāma/śirasā namaskāra), a bhakti-aṅga that disciplines ego and steadies the mind—supportive of inner yoga (śama, bhāva-śuddhi) even when not describing formal āsana or prāṇāyāma.

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

Calling the deity Īśvara while also invoking the Veda‑Puruṣa reflects the Purāṇic synthesis: the Supreme Lord is one, praised through multiple theonyms—supporting a non-sectarian (Shaiva–Vaishnava) vision characteristic of the Kūrma Purāṇa.