Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 31

Narmadā–Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Sequence of Sacred Fords and Their Fruits

Devanagari script

अङ्गिरा यत्र देवेशं ब्रह्मपुत्रो वृषध्वजम् / तपसाराध्य विश्वेशं लब्धवान् योगमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

aṅgirā yatra deveśaṃ brahmaputro vṛṣadhvajam / tapasārādhya viśveśaṃ labdhavān yogamuttamam

Translation

就在此地，安吉罗萨（Aṅgiras）——梵天之子——以苦行礼敬诸神之主、宇宙之主、牛旗之湿婆（Vṛṣadhvaja），并获得至上的瑜伽。

Word by Word

• aṅgirāḥ: Aṅgiras (the sage)
• aṅgirāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅgiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग (ऋषिनाम)

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्ध/देशवाचक (relative locative adverb: where)

• deveśam: Lord of gods
• deveśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग; तत्पुरुष-समासः (देवानाम् ईशः)

• brahma-putraḥ: Brahmā’s son
• brahma-putraḥ: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग; तत्पुरुष-समासः (ब्रह्मणः पुत्रः)

• vṛṣa-dhvajam: the bull-bannered one (Śiva)
• vṛṣa-dhvajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣa + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग; बहुव्रीहि-समासः (वृषः ध्वजः यस्य = whose banner is the bull)

• tapasā: by austerity
• tapasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• ārādhya: having worshipped/propitiated
• ārādhya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-rādh (धातु) + ल्यप्
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive), अर्थः: आराध्य/after propitiating

• viśveśam: Lord of the universe
• viśveśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग; तत्पुरुष-समासः (विश्वस्य ईशः)

• labdhavān: obtained, having obtained
• labdhavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु) + क्तवतुँ (कृत्)
• Form: क्तवतुँ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (perfect participle active), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः

• yogam: yoga (spiritual attainment)
• yogam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग

• uttamam: supreme
• uttamam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (योगम् विशेषयति)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) narrating to sages (Purāṇic dialogue frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Aṅgiras
• Brahmā
• Śiva (Vṛṣadhvaja)
• Deveśa
• Viśveśa
• Tapas
• Yoga

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling Śiva “Deveśa” and “Viśveśa,” the verse points to a single all-sovereign Lord as the highest reality, approachable through inner discipline (yoga) rather than mere ritual.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Tapas (austerity) combined with ārādhana (focused propitiatory worship) is presented as the means to attain “uttama-yoga,” aligning with the Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-leaning emphasis on disciplined practice leading to realization.

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

Within the Kurma Purana’s narrative voice (Vishnu as Kurma), the glorification of Śiva as the universal Lord reflects the text’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: devotion to one Supreme manifests through either name and form without contradiction.