Shloka 99

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

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

श्रीकूर्म उवाच एवमुक्तो ऽथ तेनाहं भक्तानुग्रहकाम्यया / यथावदखिलं सर्वमवोचं मुनिपुङ्गवाः

Transliteration

śrīkūrma uvāca evamukto 'tha tenāhaṃ bhaktānugrahakāmyayā / yathāvadakhilaṃ sarvamavocaṃ munipuṅgavāḥ

Translation

Śrī Kūrma sprach: „So von ihm angesprochen und in dem Wunsch, meinem Verehrer Gnade zu erweisen, erklärte ich daraufhin—rechtmäßig und vollständig—alles, o ihr Vorzüglichsten der Weisen.“

Word by Word

• śrīkūrmaḥ: Lord Kurma
• śrīkūrmaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrīkūrma (श्रीमूर्क)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच्)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect), Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• evam: thus
• evam: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (एवम्)
• Form: Adverb

• uktaḥ: addressed/spoken to
• uktaḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vac (वच्)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (Kta), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• atha: then
• atha: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अथ)
• Form: Conjunction

• tena: by him (Indradyumna)
• tena: Karta (Agent in passive sense/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• bhaktānugrahakāmyayā: with the desire to bless the devotee
• bhaktānugrahakāmyayā: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaktānugrahakāmyā (भक्तानुग्रहकाम्या)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• yathāvat: accurately
• yathāvat: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathāvat (यथावत्)
• Form: Adverb

• akhilam: entire
• akhilam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (अखिल)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• sarvam: everything
• sarvam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (सर्व)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• avocam: spoke/told
• avocam: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच्)
• Form: Lung Lakara (Aorist), Uttama Purusha (1st), Singular

• munipuṅgavāḥ: O eminent sages
• munipuṅgavāḥ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: munipuṅgava (मुनिपुङ्गव)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Plural

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu in the form of Kūrma)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• devotee (bhakta)
• sages (muni)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it presents the Supreme (Lord Kūrma) as a compassionate teacher who reveals complete knowledge out of grace (anugraha), implying that realization is supported by divine instruction and mercy, not merely intellectual effort.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse does not list techniques; it establishes the prerequisite for Yoga-shāstra transmission in the Kurma Purana—right teaching given 'yathāvat' (properly) through the Lord’s grace to a sincere devotee, which later supports disciplines such as devotion, restraint, and contemplative practice.

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

By portraying Viṣṇu as Kūrma giving comprehensive dharma and spiritual instruction, it matches the Purana’s integrative approach where sectarian boundaries are softened—divine teaching and grace are central, later accommodating Shaiva (including Pāśupata) and Vaishnava currents within one framework.