Shloka 52

Svāyambhuva Lineage to Dakṣa; Pṛthu’s Devotion; Pāśupata Saṃnyāsa; Dakṣa–Satī Episode

Devanagari script

प्रचेतसस्ते विख्याता राजानः प्रथितैजसः / अधीतवन्तः स्वं वेदं नारायणपरायणाः

Transliteration

pracetasaste vikhyātā rājānaḥ prathitaijasaḥ / adhītavantaḥ svaṃ vedaṃ nārāyaṇaparāyaṇāḥ

Translation

Jene Pracetas waren berühmte Könige, gerühmt ob ihres Glanzes. Nachdem sie ihre eigene vedische Überlieferung rechtmäßig studiert hatten, waren sie ganz hingegeben und nahmen Nārāyaṇa als höchstes Ziel und Zuflucht.

Word by Word

• प्रचेतसः: the Pracetas (sons of Pracetas)
• प्रचेतसः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रचेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• विख्याताः: renowned
• विख्याताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-ख्यात (कृदन्त; √ख्यै/ख्याति धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• राजानः: kings
• राजानः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• प्रथित-एजसः: of famed splendor/energy
• प्रथित-एजसः: Karta (कर्ता/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथित (कृदन्त; √प्रथ् धातु) + एजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'प्रथितम् एजः येषाम्'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• अधीतवन्तः: having studied
• अधीतवन्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधि-इ (√इ/अधि-इ धातु) + वत् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (क्तवतु/वत्; perfect participial), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'having studied'

• स्वम्: their own
• स्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• वेदम्: Veda
• वेदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• नारायण-परायणाः: devoted to Nārāyaṇa
• नारायण-परायणाः: Karta (कर्ता/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative): 'नारायणः परायणम् येषाम्/नारायणपरायण'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (Sūta-style narration within the Kurma Purana’s genealogical discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Pracetas
• Narayana

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting Nārāyaṇa as the “parāyaṇa” (highest resort and final aim), the verse implies a single supreme principle worthy of ultimate refuge—linking Vedic knowledge to realization of the highest reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds preparatory discipline: adhyayana (systematic Vedic study) and single-pointed parāyaṇatā (exclusive orientation of the mind toward Nārāyaṇa), a bhakti-infused focus consistent with Kurma Purana’s broader yogic ethics.

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

Though it names Nārāyaṇa explicitly, the Kurma Purana’s overall synthesis treats devotion and Vedic discipline as compatible across sectarian frames—supporting a non-antagonistic Shaiva–Vaishnava unity where the supreme is approached through complementary names and paths.