Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 29

Īśvara-gītā: Antaryāmin, Kāla, and the Divine Ordinance Governing Creation, Preservation, and Pralaya

Devanagari script

यो ऽपि ब्रह्मविदां श्रेष्ठो देवसेनापतिः प्रभुः / स्कन्दो ऽसौ वर्तते नित्यं स्वयंभूर्विधिचोदितः

Transliteration

yo 'pi brahmavidāṃ śreṣṭho devasenāpatiḥ prabhuḥ / skando 'sau vartate nityaṃ svayaṃbhūrvidhicoditaḥ

Translation

حتى ذلك سْكاندا—الأسمى بين عارفي البراهمن، الربّ الجليل قائد جيوش الآلهة—يمكث أبدًا، مُعيَّنًا ومُحرَّكًا إلى منصبه بأمر المولود من ذاته (براهما) وفق الحكم الإلهي.

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/समुच्चयार्थ-बलार्थ (particle: also/even)

• ब्रह्मविदाम्: of the knowers of Brahman
• ब्रह्मविदाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन; 'ब्रह्मविद्' = ब्रह्म जानाति इति (knower of Brahman)

• श्रेष्ठः: the best
• श्रेष्ठः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (superlative: best)

• देवसेनापतिः: lord of the divine army (commander)
• देवसेनापतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-सेना-पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानां सेना = देवसेना; तस्याः पतिः)

• प्रभुः: lord/master
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्कन्दः: Skanda
• स्कन्दः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; देवता-नाम

• असौ: that one/he
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; निर्देशार्थ सर्वनाम (demonstrative: that/he)

• वर्तते: exists/continues/acts
• वर्तते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative/avyaya usage)

• स्वयंभूः: the self-born (Brahmā)
• स्वयंभूः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयम्-भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्वयम् एव भूः = self-born)

• विधिचोदितः: impelled by ordinance/command
• विधिचोदितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विधि-चोदित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) √चुद्/चोद् (to impel) + क्त; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विधिना चोदितः = impelled by ordinance/command)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic voice, within the Kurma Purana’s descriptive discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Skanda
• Brahmā (Svayambhū)
• Devas (divine hosts)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling Skanda “foremost among the knowers of Brahman,” the verse foregrounds Brahmavidyā: true authority and divine function are grounded in realization of Brahman/Ātman, not merely in power or rank.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is named, but the emphasis on “brahmavidām” implies the Yogic end of knowledge (jñāna-yoga/ātma-vicāra): inner realization that supports right action (dharma) and stable, disciplined service within cosmic order.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic synthesis: Skanda (a key Shaiva deity) is portrayed within a divinely regulated cosmic administration (vidhi) overseen by Brahmā, aligning sectarian forms with one ordered, overarching dharma rather than rivalry.