Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

Lineage of Vyāsas, Division of the Veda, and Vāsudeva/Īśāna as the Veda-Known Supreme

Devanagari script

स एव सर्ववेदानां पुराणानां प्रदर्शकः / पाराशर्यो महायोगी कृष्णद्वैपायनो हरिः

Transliteration

sa eva sarvavedānāṃ purāṇānāṃ pradarśakaḥ / pārāśaryo mahāyogī kṛṣṇadvaipāyano hariḥ

Translation

তিনিই সকল বেদ ও পুরাণের প্রকাশক ও ব্যাখ্যাতা—পরাশরের পুত্র মহাযোগী কৃষ্ণদ্বৈপায়ন ব্যাস, যিনি স্বয়ং হরিই।

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एव: indeed/alone
• एव: Discourse connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• सर्ववेदानाम्: of all the Vedas
• सर्ववेदानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वे वेदाः)

• पुराणानाम्: of the Purāṇas
• पुराणानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• प्रदर्शकः: expounder/revealer
• प्रदर्शकः: Karta (कर्ता; नामरूपेण विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र + दृश् (धातु) + ण्वुल् (कृत्) → प्रदर्शक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्तृवाचक कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पाराशर्यः: Pārāśarya (descendant/son of Parāśara)
• पाराशर्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाराशर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गोत्र/अपत्यार्थक तद्धित (पराशरस्य अपत्यं)

• महायोगी: great yogin
• महायोगी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् योगी)

• कृष्णद्वैपायनः: Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana
• कृष्णद्वैपायनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण + द्वैपायन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता; समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (traditional Purāṇic narrator) praising Vyāsa within the Kurma Purana narrative frame

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa
• Parashara
• Hari
• Vedas
• Puranas

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By identifying Vyāsa with Hari, the verse implies that the revelatory power behind scripture is ultimately divine—suggesting a single supreme source that illumines sacred knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is prescribed, but Vyāsa is called a mahāyogin, indicating that scriptural revelation is grounded in yogic realization (yoga as direct insight supporting śāstra).

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

Indirectly, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic approach: the same supreme divinity (here named Hari) can be the inner source of multiple traditions and teachings, a basis for Shaiva–Vaishnava harmony.