Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Dakṣa-yajña-bhaṅgaḥ — Dadhīci’s Teaching and the Destruction of Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

अन्तर्हिते भगवति दक्षो नारायणं हरिम् / रक्षकं जगतां देवं जगाम शरणं स्वयम्

Transliteration

antarhite bhagavati dakṣo nārāyaṇaṃ harim / rakṣakaṃ jagatāṃ devaṃ jagāma śaraṇaṃ svayam

Translation

لما احتجب الربّ المبارك عن الأنظار، مضى دكشا بنفسه مستجيرًا بنارايانا—هري، الإله الحامي لعوالم الوجود.

Word by Word

• अन्तर्हिते: when (he) was hidden/withdrawn
• अन्तर्हिते: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्/Locative setting)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तर्हित (कृदन्त; अन्तर्+√धा/√हि?; past passive participle used adjectivally)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (singular), नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे/स्त्रीलिङ्गे—सप्तमी-एकवचन रूपम्; अव्ययीभाव-समासः (अन्तर्+हित)

• भगवति: in the Lord
• भगवति: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (singular), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine)

• दक्षः: Dakṣa
• दक्षः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (singular), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine)

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (singular), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine)

• हरिम्: Hari
• हरिम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object; apposition to नारायणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (singular), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine)

• रक्षकम्: protector
• रक्षकम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षक (प्रातिपदिक; √रक्ष्)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (singular), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine)

• जगताम्: of the worlds
• जगताम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (plural), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter)

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (singular), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine)

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• शरणम्: for refuge
• शरणम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object; goal as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter); ‘शरणं गम्’ इति प्रयोगे गत्यर्थकर्म

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: विशेषण (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable); आत्मनः/स्वतः (emphatic adverb)

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (Vyāsa/Śaunaka-style narration) describing Dakṣa’s action

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Dakṣa
• Nārāyaṇa
• Hari
• Bhagavān

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying Bhagavān as the ever-reliable refuge and protector beyond changing appearances, the verse points to the Supreme as the stable ground of security—sought when external supports fail.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes śaraṇāgati (taking refuge), a core devotional discipline aligned with yogic humility and inner surrender, which the Kurma Purana treats as a practical spiritual orientation supporting dharma and higher realization.

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

Even within a Purāṇic world that honors Śaiva currents, the verse presents Nārāyaṇa/Hari as universal refuge—reflecting the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance where sectarian boundaries yield to the single Supreme Lord as protector.