Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 73

Brahmā’s Lotus-Birth, the Sealing of the Cosmic Womb, and the Epiphany of Parameśvara

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

त्वमेव देव भक्तानां भ्राता माता पिता सुहृत् / प्रसीद तव पादाब्जं नमामि शरणं गतः

Transliteration

tvameva deva bhaktānāṃ bhrātā mātā pitā suhṛt / prasīda tava pādābjaṃ namāmi śaraṇaṃ gataḥ

Translation

أنت وحدك، يا ديفا، أخٌ وأمٌّ وأبٌ وصديقٌ صادقٌ لعبّادك. فامنحني رضاك؛ إنّي أنحني لقدمَيك اللوتسيتين وقد جئتُ إليك لاجئًا مستجيرًا.

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Emphasis (निपात-बल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• देव: O god
• देव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• भक्तानाम्: of devotees
• भक्तानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• भ्राता: brother
• भ्राता: Pradhāna/Predicate (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; predicate nominative (समानााधिकरण) with त्वम्

• माता: mother
• माता: Pradhāna/Predicate (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; predicate nominative

• पिता: father
• पिता: Pradhāna/Predicate (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; predicate nominative

• सुहृत्: friend
• सुहृत्: Pradhāna/Predicate (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; predicate nominative

• प्रसीद: be gracious
• प्रसीद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सद् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• पाद-अब्जम्: lotus-feet
• पाद-अब्जम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + अब्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—पादस्य अब्जम् (lotus of the feet)

• नमामि: I bow to
• नमामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शरणम्: as refuge
• शरणम्: Gati/Prayojana (गति/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; adverbial-accusative sense ‘as refuge’

• गतः: having gone/approached
• गतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘अहम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

King Indradyumna (devotee) addressing the Supreme Deity (Hari/Kurma)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Deva
• Bhakta
• Lotus-feet (pādābja)
• Śaraṇa (refuge)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the sole sustaining reality for devotees—protector, nurturer, and intimate well-wisher—implying a single ultimate refuge beyond worldly relations.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes śaraṇāgati (complete surrender) and remembrance of the Lord’s lotus-feet—core devotional disciplines that, in Kurma Purana’s yoga-ethos, prepare the mind for steadiness, purity, and higher contemplative practice.

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

By addressing the Deity as the one all-sufficient refuge for devotees, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: the supreme Lord is one, approached through devotion regardless of Shaiva or Vaishnava framing.