Previous Verse
Next Verse

Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 167

Dakṣa’s Progeny, Nṛsiṃha–Varāha Avatāras, and Andhaka’s Defeat

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

ततो नारायणं देवं गणेशा मातरो ऽपि च / न पश्यन्ति जगत्सूतिं तद्भुतमिवाभवत्

tato nārāyaṇaṃ devaṃ gaṇeśā mātaro 'pi ca / na paśyanti jagatsūtiṃ tadbhutamivābhavat

তখন দেব নারায়ণ, গণেশগণ এবং মাতৃকারাও জগত্সূতি (জগতের জননী)কে দেখতে পেলেন না; তা অতি বিস্ময়কর বলে মনে হল।

ततःthen/thereupon
ततः:
Kāla/Desha-adhikaraṇa (काल/देश-अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (Indeclinable), अव्यय-प्रकारः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)
नारायणम्Nārāyaṇa
नारायणम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootनारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)
देवम्the god
देवम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)
गणेशाःthe Gaṇeśas (Gaṇas)
गणेशाः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootगणेश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)
मातरःthe Mothers (Mātṛkās)
मातरः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)
अपिalso/even
अपि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (Indeclinable), निपात (particle)
and
:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (Indeclinable), समुच्चय (conjunction)
not
:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (Indeclinable), निषेध (negation particle)
पश्यन्तिthey see
पश्यन्ति:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootपश् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)
जगत्सूतिम्the mother/producer of the world
जगत्सूतिम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootजगत्-सूति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpuruṣa: जगतः सूतिः), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)
तद्भुतम्that wonder/marvel
तद्भुतम्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद्-भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpuruṣa: तत् + भुत/अद्भुत), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)
इवas if/like
इव:
Upamā (उपमा)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (Indeclinable), उपमा (comparative particle)
अभवत्became/occurred
अभवत्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootभू (धातु)
Formलङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

Purāṇic narrator (Vyāsa/Sūta framework), describing events

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

N
Narayana
G
Ganeshas (gaṇeśāḥ)
M
Mothers (Mātṛkās)
J
Jagatsūti

FAQs

By showing that even exalted deities fail to perceive the cosmic source (Jagatsūti), the verse points to a transcendent principle that surpasses ordinary perception—suggesting the ultimate reality is subtler than even divine senses.

While no technique is named, the implication aligns with yogic teaching: true knowledge requires inward realization (dhyāna/jñāna) beyond sensory or celestial vision—an idea later systematized in Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava spiritual instruction and Pāśupata-oriented discipline.

By placing Nārāyaṇa alongside gaṇa-lords and the Mātṛkās as equally unable to see the cosmic source, the verse levels sectarian hierarchy and supports the Purāṇa’s synthesis: the highest principle transcends distinct divine forms associated with both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva traditions.