Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 164

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

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

तसमादशेषभूतानां रक्षको विष्णुरव्ययः / यथावदिह विज्ञाय ध्येयः सर्वापदि प्रभुः

Transliteration

tasamādaśeṣabhūtānāṃ rakṣako viṣṇuravyayaḥ / yathāvadiha vijñāya dhyeyaḥ sarvāpadi prabhuḥ

Translation

فلذلك فإن الربّ فيشنو، غير الفاني، هو حامي جميع الكائنات بلا استثناء. فإذا عُرف هذا على وجهه في هذا العالم، فليتأمّل المرء ذلك السيّد في كل وقت شِدّة.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोगः; तस्मात् (therefore)

• अशेष: all; entire
• अशेष: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक; न-उपसर्ग + शेष)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-समासपूर्वपद-रूपे; अत्र ‘भूतानाम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (all, without remainder)

• भूतानाम्: of beings
• भूतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• रक्षकः: protector
• रक्षकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; रक्षकः इत्यस्य समानाधिकरणम्

• अव्ययः: imperishable
• अव्ययः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक; न-उपसर्ग + व्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विष्णोः विशेषणम्

• यथावत्: properly
• यथावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषणम् (properly, correctly)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (here/in this world)

• विज्ञाय: having understood
• विज्ञाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + वि- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; ‘having known’

• ध्येयः: to be meditated on
• ध्येयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्येय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; ध्यै (धातु) + यत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्; ‘to be meditated upon’

• सर्व: in every
• सर्व: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन-समासपूर्वपदम्; ‘अपदि’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• आपदि: in calamity; in distress
• आपदि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ध्येयः इत्यस्य समानाधिकरणम्

Speaker

Narrator/Sage (Purāṇic discourse affirming refuge in Viṣṇu)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Prabhu

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the imperishable Lord who pervades and protects all beings; realizing this truth, the seeker turns inward to steady contemplation, aligning the individual self with the ever-present divine refuge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes dhyāna (steady meditation) grounded in right understanding (yathāvat-vijñāna): in all crises one recollects and contemplates the Lord as protector, a practical bhakti-infused discipline consistent with Purāṇic yoga and devotion-led concentration.

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

While naming Viṣṇu explicitly, it conveys the Purāṇic principle of one sovereign Lord as universal refuge—harmonizing sectarian viewpoints by focusing on the single, imperishable Prabhu revered across Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis in the Kurma Purana.