Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 113

Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion

Devanagari script

योगेश्वराणां च कथा शिष्याणां चाथ कीर्तनम् / गीताश्च विविधागुह्या ईश्वरस्याथ कीर्तिताः

Transliteration

yogeśvarāṇāṃ ca kathā śiṣyāṇāṃ cātha kīrtanam / gītāśca vividhāguhyā īśvarasyātha kīrtitāḥ

Translation

هنا تُروى حكايات سادة اليوغا العظام، وتُذكر أيضًا أخبار تلامذتهم؛ وكذلك تُعلَن الأناشيد والتعاليم المتنوعة الخفية للربّ إيشڤارا (Īśvara).

Word by Word

• योगेश्वराणाम्: of the yogic lords
• योगेश्वराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; योग + ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (of)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कथा: the account/story
• कथा: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विषय/उद्देश्य (topic)

• शिष्याणाम्: of the disciples
• शिष्याणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (of)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• कीर्तनम्: the narration/recitation
• कीर्तनम्: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्तन (प्रातिपदिक; √कीर्त् धातु से भाव/कर्म-नाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; कर्म/विषय (recital)

• गीताः: songs
• गीताः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीता (प्रातिपदिक; √गै/√गी धातु से क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; विषय (songs)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विविधा: various
• विविधा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) गीताः इति विशेष्यस्य

• गुह्याः: secret/esoteric
• गुह्याः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (secret) गीताः इति विशेष्यस्य

• ईश्वरस्य: of the Lord
• ईश्वरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (of)

• अथ: then/also
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/also)

• कीर्तिताः: have been narrated
• कीर्तिताः: Karma (कर्म/कर्मणि-प्रयोगे प्रथमा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (they) have been described

Speaker

Narrator/Sūta-like reciter describing the contents being proclaimed within the Kurma Purana’s teaching context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Yogeshvaras
• Shishyas

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By emphasizing Īśvara’s “secret and varied teachings,” the verse points to a Lord-centered (Īśvara) revelation of higher truth—suggesting that realization of the Self is transmitted through authoritative yogic instruction and inner (guhya) doctrine rather than mere outward ritual.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights the tradition of Yogic masters (yogeśvaras) and the lineage of disciples, implying a disciplined, initiatory transmission of Yoga—characteristic of Pāśupata-oriented teaching where practice is learned through instruction, recitation, and guarded (esoteric) guidance.

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

By centering on “Īśvara” and yogic lineages rather than sectarian naming, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s integrative approach: the supreme Lord is taught through Yoga and esoteric doctrine in a way compatible with both Śaiva (Īśvara/Pāśupata) and Vaiṣṇava (Lord-centered) theological frames.