Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 34

Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rudra’s Samanvaya Teaching

Maṅkaṇaka Episode

Devanagari script

यत्र नारायणो देवो रुद्रेण त्रिपुरारिणा / कृत्वा यज्ञस्य मथनं दक्षस्य तु विसर्जितः

Transliteration

yatra nārāyaṇo devo rudreṇa tripurāriṇā / kṛtvā yajñasya mathanaṃ dakṣasya tu visarjitaḥ

Translation

যেখানে স্বয়ং ভগবান নারায়ণ ত্রিপুরারী রুদ্রের সঙ্গে মিলিত হয়ে দক্ষের যজ্ঞকে মথন/বিধ্বস্ত করে শৃঙ্খলায় স্থাপন করে পরে সেখান থেকে প্রস্থান করেন।

Word by Word

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक सम्बन्धबोधक (relative locative adverb: “where”)

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; अप्पोज़िशन

• रुद्रेण: by Rudra
• रुद्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन

• त्रिपुरारिणा: by the slayer of Tripura
• त्रिपुरारिणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिपुर-अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (त्रिपुरस्य अरिः = Tripura-slayer)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); “having done”

• यज्ञस्य: of the sacrifice
• यज्ञस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• मथनम्: churning/agitation
• मथनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मथन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• दक्षस्य: of Dakṣa
• दक्षस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधसूचक निपात (particle: “but/indeed”)

• विसर्जितः: was dismissed/sent away
• विसर्जितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-सृज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (having been dismissed/sent away)

Speaker

Traditional narration by the Purana’s Suta/Narrator describing a tirtha linked to the Daksha-yajna episode (Shaiva–Vaishnava unity motif).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Narayana (Vishnu)
• Rudra (Shiva)
• Tripurari (Shiva)
• Daksha
• Yajna (Sacrifice)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting Nārāyaṇa acting in harmony with Rudra, the verse implies a single sovereign divine reality functioning through multiple forms to restore ṛta (cosmic order), pointing to an underlying unity beyond sectarian difference.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse is primarily tirtha- and dharma-focused rather than instructional Yoga; indirectly, it supports the Kurma Purana’s discipline of inner detachment—seeing ritual success and disruption alike as movements of Īśvara—an attitude aligned with meditative steadiness (samatā).

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

It depicts cooperative divine agency: Nārāyaṇa and Rudra act together in the Dakṣa-yajña episode, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis where the two are functionally distinct yet harmonized in purpose.