Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī

Devanagari script

आलोक्य कृष्णमायान्तं पूजयामास तत्त्ववित् / आसने चासयामास योगिनां प्रथमातिथिम्

Transliteration

ālokya kṛṣṇamāyāntaṃ pūjayāmāsa tattvavit / āsane cāsayāmāsa yogināṃ prathamātithim

Translation

ولما رأى كريشنا مقبلاً، أكرمه العارف بالحقيقة بالعبادة والتبجيل؛ وأجلسه على مقعد لائق، مستقبلاً إيّاه كأسمى ضيف بين اليوغيين.

Word by Word

• आलोक्य: having seen
• आलोक्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); उपसर्ग: आ

• कृष्णम्: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• आयान्तम्: coming/approaching
• आयान्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of कृष्णम्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-या (धातु) → आयान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle)

• पूजयामास: worshipped/honoured
• पूजयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Periphrastic perfect/परस्मैपदी), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्त्ववित्: the knower of truth
• तत्त्ववित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्वविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• आसने: on a seat
• आसने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• आसयामास: seated (made to sit)
• आसयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु) (causative)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative) ‘आसयति’; लिट्-लकार (Periphrastic perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• योगिनाम्: of yogins
• योगिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• प्रथम-अतिथिम्: the foremost guest
• प्रथम-अतिथिम्: Karma (कर्म) (object of आसयामास)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक) + अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘प्रथमः अतिथिः’

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator recounting the episode)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Krishna

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling Kṛṣṇa the “foremost guest among yogins,” the verse implies that the highest Reality recognized by yogic insight is worthy of direct reverence—where true tattva-jñāna naturally culminates in honoring the Supreme as present and approachable.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds the yogic ideal of tattva-viveka (discernment of reality) expressed through disciplined conduct—especially atithi-dharma (reverent reception). In the Kurma Purana’s yogic ethos, inner realization is validated by outer steadiness, humility, and right ritual honor.

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

Though Kṛṣṇa is a Vaiṣṇava form, He is praised in yogic, tattva-centered terms that the Kurma Purana also uses for Śaiva realization—signaling a non-sectarian synthesis where the Supreme is one, approached through yoga, jñāna, and devotion.