Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

Ikṣvāku-vaṃśa (Genealogy) culminating in Rāma; Setu-liṅga Māhātmya; Continuation through Kuśa and Lava

Devanagari script

रामो ऽपि पालयामास राज्यं धर्मपरायणः / अभिषिक्तो महातेजा भरतेन महाबलः

Transliteration

rāmo 'pi pālayāmāsa rājyaṃ dharmaparāyaṇaḥ / abhiṣikto mahātejā bharatena mahābalaḥ

Translation

وراما أيضًا حكم المملكة، مكرَّسًا كلَّه للدارما؛ وذلك البطل الجبّار، المتلألئ بعظيم البهاء، قد أُجري له طقسُ التتويج ملكًا على يد بهاراتا، ذي القوة العظمى.

Word by Word

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (also/even)

• पालयामास: ruled / protected
• पालयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; ‘आमास’ परिप्रयोग (periphrastic perfect)

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• धर्मपरायणः: devoted to dharma
• धर्मपरायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) रामस्य

• अभिषिक्तः: anointed
• अभिषिक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + सिच् (धातु) → अभिषिक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; रामस्य विशेषण

• महातेजाः: of great splendor
• महातेजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘तेजस्’ अकारान्त-प्राय रूप (mahātejāḥ)

• भरतेन: by Bharata
• भरतेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• महाबलः: of great strength
• महाबलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; रामस्य विशेषण

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (sūta-style narration within the Kurma Purana’s discourse framework)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Bharata
• Dharma
• Rajya (Kingship)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it frames dharma as the governing principle of life: a ruler aligned with dharma reflects inner self-mastery—an ethical groundwork that the Kurma Purana later connects to realization-oriented disciplines.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No technique is named, but the verse emphasizes dharma-niṣṭhā (steadfastness in righteousness), which functions as a preparatory discipline (yama-like ethical restraint) supporting later teachings associated with Pāśupata-oriented practice and Ishvara-bhakti.

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

By presenting Rāma (a Viṣṇu-linked exemplar) as the model of dharma-rājya, it supports the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis: righteous action and devotion are shared foundations across Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva paths, later articulated as harmony rather than rivalry.