Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

Yuga-Dharma: The Four Ages, Decline of Dharma, and the Rise of Social Order

Devanagari script

संहिता ऋग्यजुः साम्नां संहन्यन्ते श्रुतर्षिभिः / सामान्याद् वैकृताच्चैवदृष्टिभेदैः क्वचित् क्वचित्

Transliteration

saṃhitā ṛgyajuḥ sāmnāṃ saṃhanyante śrutarṣibhiḥ / sāmānyād vaikṛtāccaivadṛṣṭibhedaiḥ kvacit kvacit

Translation

تُرتَّبُ مُصنَّفاتُ السَّمهيتا للـṚg والـYajus والـSāman على يد رِشيِّي السُّروتي؛ ثمّ في مواضع شتّى تتنوّع لاختلاف وجهات النظر—تارةً من جهة العامّ المشترك، وتارةً من جهة المُعدَّل المُفصَّل.

Word by Word

• संहिता: the saṃhitā (collection)
• संहिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ऋक्-यजुः-साम्नाम्: of the Ṛk, Yajus and Sāman (Vedas)
• ऋक्-यजुः-साम्नाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋक् (प्रातिपदिक) + यजुः (प्रातिपदिक) + सामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व समास (ऋक् च यजुः च साम च)

• संहन्यन्ते: are compiled/are arranged together
• संहन्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• श्रुत-ऋषिभिः: by the learned sages
• श्रुत-ऋषिभिः: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (श्रुताः ऋषयः = ‘heard/learned sages’)

• सामान्यात्: from the common (reading)
• सामान्यात्: Apadana/Hetu (अपादान/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे

• वैकृतात्: from the altered/variant (reading)
• वैकृतात्: Apadana/Hetu (अपादान/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे

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

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• दृष्टि-भेदैः: by differences of viewpoint
• दृष्टि-भेदैः: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दृष्टेः भेदाः)

• क्वचित्: in some cases/sometimes
• क्वचित्: Desha-kala (देश-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/काल-अव्यय (adverb: ‘somewhere/sometimes’)

• क्वचित्: here and there
• क्वचित्: Desha-kala (देश-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति (repetition for distributive sense)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing in a Purāṇic teaching context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ṛgveda
• Yajurveda
• Sāmaveda
• Śruti
• Ṛṣi (Śrutarṣi)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes that differences in formulation arise from dṛṣṭi-bheda (standpoints) while the underlying Śruti-ground remains common—mirroring how one truth can be expressed through multiple valid recensions.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific practice is prescribed in this verse; it sets a scriptural foundation by affirming Śruti’s organized transmission, which later supports Yoga-shāstra disciplines grounded in Vedic authority.

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

Not explicitly; however, by validating multiple recensional expressions from a common Śruti-basis, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s broader synthetic method—allowing unified truth to be taught through different theological and yogic lenses.