Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Dakṣa-yajña-bhaṅgaḥ — Dadhīci’s Teaching and the Destruction of Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

दधीच उवाच किं त्वया भगवानेष सहस्त्रांशुर्न दृश्यते / सर्वलोकैकसंहर्ता कालात्मा परमेश्वरः

Transliteration

dadhīca uvāca kiṃ tvayā bhagavāneṣa sahastrāṃśurna dṛśyate / sarvalokaikasaṃhartā kālātmā parameśvaraḥ

Translation

Dadhīca sprach: „Warum nimmst du diesen Erhabenen nicht wahr, die tausendstrahlige Sonne? Er ist der höchste Herr, dessen Wesen die Zeit ist; er allein ist der einzige, der alle Welten einzieht und auflöst.“

Word by Word

• दधीचः: Dadhīca
• दधीचः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधीच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative) एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; निर्देशवाचक सर्वनाम

• सहस्रांशुः: the thousand-rayed (Sun)
• सहस्रांशुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र + अंशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सहस्राणाम् अंशवः यस्य)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• दृश्यते: is seen/appears
• दृश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

• सर्वलोकैकसंहर्ता: the sole destroyer of all worlds
• सर्वलोकैकसंहर्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + लोक + एक + संहर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः (सर्वलोकानाम् एकः संहर्ता)

• कालात्मा: whose essence is Time / Time-souled
• कालात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कालः आत्मा यस्य/कालरूप आत्मा)

• परमेश्वरः: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (परमः ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Sage Dadhīca

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Dadhīca
• Sahasrāṃśu (Sūrya)
• Kāla (Time)
• Parameśvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme Lord as kālātmā—one whose very essence is Time—implying the ultimate reality governs manifestation and dissolution, transcending ordinary perception while regulating all beings.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse stresses “perception” (dṛśyate) of the divine principle behind visible forms; in Kurma Purana’s yogic frame, this aligns with inner discernment (viveka) and contemplative recognition of Īśvara as the power of time, change, and dissolution.

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

By speaking of Parameśvara as Kāla—the supreme governing principle beyond sectarian form—the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the highest Lord (Īśvara) can be understood through both Shaiva and Vaishnava theological lenses.