Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 51

Naimittika-pralaya and the Theology of Kāla: Seven Suns, Saṃvartaka Fire, Flood, and Varāha Kalpa

Devanagari script

ध्यानं तपस्तथा ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा तेष्वेव योगिनः / आराध्य गिरिशं मां च यान्ति तत् परमं पदम्

Transliteration

dhyānaṃ tapastathā jñānaṃ labdhvā teṣveva yoginaḥ / ārādhya giriśaṃ māṃ ca yānti tat paramaṃ padam

Translation

既得禅观、苦行与真实智，并安住于彼等修持之中，诸瑜伽行者以礼敬吉利沙（Girīśa，湿婆）并亦礼敬我，遂至彼至上之境。

Word by Word

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (रूपम्: तपः)

• तथा: and also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/क्रियाविशेषण (also/likewise)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• लब्ध्वा: having obtained
• लब्ध्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकाल (having obtained)

• तेषु: in those (kalpas)
• तेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed / only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• योगिनः: yogins
• योगिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• आराध्य: having worshipped
• आराध्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + राध् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकाल (having worshipped)

• गिरिशम्: Giriśa (Śiva)
• गिरिशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• यान्ति: they go / attain
• यान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of पदम्)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of पदम्)

• पदम्: state / abode
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (Iśvara-gītā style Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Girisha (Shiva)
• Lord Kurma (Vishnu)
• Yogins
• Paramam Padam (Supreme Abode)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the supreme goal (paramaṃ padam) as attainable through integrated discipline—meditation, austerity, and liberating knowledge—implying that realization is not merely ritual but an inward stabilization in truth that culminates in the highest state.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds a threefold sādhanā: dhyāna (steady contemplation), tapas (purifying restraint/ascetic heat), and jñāna (discriminative spiritual insight). It also implies sustained abidance in these (teṣv eva), aligning with Pāśupata-oriented discipline culminating in liberation.

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

By stating that yogins attain the supreme state by worshipping Girīśa (Śiva) and “Me” (Vishnu/Kūrma) together, it teaches a reconciliatory, non-sectarian synthesis: devotion to Śiva and Vishnu is presented as mutually supportive on the path to mokṣa.