Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 166

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

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

प्रार्थयामासुरीशाने भक्तिं भक्तजनप्रिये / भवानीपादयुगले नारायणपदाम्बुजे

Transliteration

prārthayāmāsurīśāne bhaktiṃ bhaktajanapriye / bhavānīpādayugale nārāyaṇapadāmbuje

Translation

تضرّعت إلى الربّ الأعلى طالبةً البهاكتي—يا محبوب العابدين—راجيةً محبّةَ العبادة عند قدمي بهافاني المزدوجتين، وعند قدمي نارايانا اللوتسيتين.

Word by Word

• प्रार्थयामास: (he/she) prayed/entreated
• प्रार्थयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रार्थय् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्शभूत), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• उरीशाने: O Lord (Īśāna)
• उरीशाने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरीशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भक्तिम्: devotion
• भक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भक्तजनप्रिये: O beloved of devotees
• भक्तजनप्रिये: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त-जन-प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpuruṣa: भक्तानां जनानां प्रियः), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भवानीपादयुगले: at the pair of Bhavānī’s feet
• भवानीपादयुगले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवानी-पाद-युगल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpuruṣa: भवानीस्य पादयुगलम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• नारायणपदाम्बुजे: at Nārāyaṇa’s lotus-feet
• नारायणपदाम्बुजे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण-पद-अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpuruṣa: नारायणस्य पदाम्बुजम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narrator (Purana narration describing a devotee’s prayer within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ishana
• Bhakti
• Bhavani
• Narayana

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By addressing the one Īśāna while simultaneously seeking refuge in both Bhavānī and Nārāyaṇa, the verse implies a single supreme reality approached through multiple divine forms—devotion becomes a direct means of aligning the self with that highest Lord.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The practice emphasized is bhakti-yoga: prayerful surrender (prārthanā), remembrance, and taking refuge at the Lord’s “feet” (pāda/ padāmbuja), a classic meditative focus in Purāṇic yoga where devotion stabilizes the mind and purifies intention.

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

It presents a harmonized theology: devotion is sought from Īśāna while simultaneously resting in Bhavānī’s feet and Nārāyaṇa’s lotus-feet, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian stance that honors Shiva-Shakti and Vishnu as mutually compatible expressions of the Supreme.