Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 29

Mādhayameśvara-māhātmya — Vyāsa at Mandākinī and the Pāśupata Vision

Devanagari script

धन्यास्तु खलु ते विप्रा मन्दाकिन्यां कृतोदकाः / अर्चयन्ति महादेवं मध्यमेश्वरमीश्वरम्

Transliteration

dhanyāstu khalu te viprā mandākinyāṃ kṛtodakāḥ / arcayanti mahādevaṃ madhyameśvaramīśvaram

Translation

طوبى حقًّا لأولئك الحكماء من البراهمة الذين أتمّوا الاغتسال الطقسي في الماندَاكيني؛ إنهم يعبدون مهاديڤا—إيشڤارا نفسه—عند مَدهْيَمِيشڤارا، ربّ المقام الأوسط المقدّس.

Word by Word

• धन्याः: blessed/fortunate
• धन्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विप्राः इति विशेष्यस्य

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle: indeed/but)

• खलु: surely
• खलु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: खलु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (emphatic particle)

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• विप्राः: brahmins
• विप्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मन्दाकिन्याम्: in the (river) Mandākinī
• मन्दाकिन्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• कृत-उदकाः: having performed the water-rite/bathing
• कृत-उदकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ, धातु) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (उदकं कृतं येन/यत्र), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विप्राः इति विशेष्यस्य; अर्थ: स्नानकृताः/उदककर्मकृताः

• अर्चयन्ति: worship
• अर्चयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (महान् देवः), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मध्यमेश्वरम्: Madhyameśvara
• मध्यमेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यम + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (मध्यमः ईश्वरः), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ईश्वरम् इति विशेष्यस्य समानाधिकरण-विशेषणवत्

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord
• ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking to the sages (contextual tirtha-mahatmya narration)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Mandakini
• Mahadeva (Shiva)
• Madhyameshvara

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling Mahādeva “Īśvara,” the verse points to a single sovereign principle worthy of worship; sanctifying acts like snāna and pūjā are presented as means to align the individual with that Lordly reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes preparatory sādhana: śauca through snāna (ritual purification) and īśvara-arcana (devotional worship). In Kurma Purana’s broader discipline, such purification and focused worship support steadiness of mind essential for yoga and Pāśupata-oriented devotion.

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

In the Kurma Purana’s synthetic tone, honoring Mahādeva as Īśvara within a narration attributed to Lord Kūrma reflects the non-sectarian unity where Śiva-worship is affirmed within a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇic voice.