Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 145

Dakṣa’s Progeny, Nṛsiṃha–Varāha Avatāras, and Andhaka’s Defeat

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

ततो देवगणाः सर्वे मरीचिप्रमुखा द्विजाः / आजग्मुर्मन्दरं द्रुष्टं देवदेवं त्रिलोचनम्

Transliteration

tato devagaṇāḥ sarve marīcipramukhā dvijāḥ / ājagmurmandaraṃ druṣṭaṃ devadevaṃ trilocanam

Translation

ثم إنّ جموعَ الآلهة كلَّها، ومعهم الحكماءُ من ذوي الميلادين يتقدّمهم مريچي، قصدوا جبلَ ماندارا ليروا تريلوچانا، إلهَ الآلهة (شيفا).

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक अव्यय (ablatival adverb: then/from there)

• देव-गणाः: groups of gods
• देव-गणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानां गणाः)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• मरीचि-प्रमुखाः: with Marīci as foremost
• मरीचि-प्रमुखाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मरीचि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (मरीचिः प्रमुखः येषाम्)

• द्विजाः: twice-born (sages/brāhmaṇas)
• द्विजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• आजग्मुः: came/arrived
• आजग्मुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मन्दरम्: Mandara (mountain/place)
• मन्दरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• द्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्यय; प्रयोजनार्थ (purpose)

• देव-देवम्: God of gods
• देव-देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानां देवः)

• त्रि-लोचनम्: three-eyed
• त्रि-लोचनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (त्रीणि लोचनानि यस्य)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing the event within the Purāṇic narration

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Marīci
• Mandara
• Trilocana (Śiva)
• Devas
• Dvijas (sages)

More Details (5 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by presenting Śiva as “deva-deva” and the object of darśana, the verse points to the Supreme as worthy of direct realization/vision beyond ordinary deities—an orientation consistent with the Purāṇa’s non-sectarian, highest-Iśvara framing.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds darśana (beholding) of the Lord as a devotional-contemplative act; in the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva-Pāśupata milieu, such approach to the Lord supports inner recollection (smṛti), one-pointed attention (ekāgratā), and worship that matures into yogic absorption.

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

By reverently naming Śiva as the “Lord of gods” within a Vaiṣṇava-framed Purāṇa, it reinforces the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: sectarian boundaries are softened, and highest divinity is honored through complementary Śiva–Viṣṇu theology.