Shloka 124

Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

धन्यं यशस्यामायुष्यं पुण्यं मोक्षप्रदं नृणाम् / पुराणश्रवणं विप्राः कथनं च विशेषतः

Transliteration

dhanyaṃ yaśasyāmāyuṣyaṃ puṇyaṃ mokṣapradaṃ nṛṇām / purāṇaśravaṇaṃ viprāḥ kathanaṃ ca viśeṣataḥ

Translation

O Brāhmaṇas, für die Menschen ist das Hören der Purāṇas—und erst recht ihr Vortrag—segensreich: es verleiht Ruhm, verlängert das Leben, schafft Verdienst und schenkt Befreiung (mokṣa).

Word by Word

• धन्यम्: blessed/fortunate
• धन्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nom./Acc. singular (as predicate adjective)

• यशस्यम्: fame-giving
• यशस्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यशस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nom./Acc. singular ‘fame-giving’

• आयुष्यम्: life-prolonging
• आयुष्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nom./Acc. singular ‘life-promoting’

• पुण्यम्: meritorious
• पुण्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nom./Acc. singular ‘meritorious’

• मोक्षप्रदम्: liberation-giving
• मोक्षप्रदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोक्ष + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nom./Acc. singular ‘granting liberation’

• नृणाम्: of people
• नृणाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive plural ‘of men/people’

• पुराणश्रवणम्: hearing the Purāṇa
• पुराणश्रवणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण + श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nom./Acc. singular ‘hearing of the Purāṇa’

• विप्राः: O brāhmaṇas
• विप्राः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Vocative plural ‘O brāhmaṇas’

• कथनम्: telling/reciting
• कथनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nom./Acc. singular ‘telling/recitation’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; conjunction ‘and’

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण ‘especially/particularly’

Speaker

Sūta (traditional Purāṇic narrator) addressing the assembled Brāhmaṇa sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Purāṇa
• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does so indirectly: by declaring Purāṇic śravaṇa and kathana as “mokṣa-prada,” it implies that right knowledge transmitted through sacred narration becomes a means to liberation—awakening discernment that culminates in realization of the Self beyond bondage.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds śravaṇa (listening) and kathana/pravacana (teaching) as primary disciplines of spiritual practice—foundational to the Purāṇic-Yogic path where sustained hearing, reflection, and instruction purify the mind and prepare one for deeper yoga such as dhyāna and īśvara-bhakti.

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

By praising Purāṇic transmission as a direct means to mokṣa, it supports the Kurma Purana’s integrative approach: liberation is accessed through the shared dharma-teaching tradition that accommodates both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva revelations, rather than insisting on sectarian exclusivity.