Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

देवाङ्गनासहस्त्राढ्यमप्सरोगीतनादितम् / वीणावेणुनिनादाढ्यं वेदवादाभिनादितम्

Transliteration

devāṅganāsahastrāḍhyamapsarogītanāditam / vīṇāveṇuninādāḍhyaṃ vedavādābhināditam

Translation

Jener Ort war erfüllt von Tausenden himmlischer Jungfrauen, widerhallend von den Gesängen der Apsarās; reich an den Klängen von vīṇā und Flöte und durchdrungen vom feierlichen Vortrag heiliger vedischer Worte.

Word by Word

• देवाङ्गना-सहस्र-आढ्यम्: rich with thousands of divine maidens
• देवाङ्गना-सहस्र-आढ्यम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देवाङ्गना (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Acc/Nom, Singular; adjectival)

• अप्सरः-गीत-नादितम्: resounding with the songs of apsarases
• अप्सरः-गीत-नादितम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + गीत (प्रातिपदिक) + नादित (कृदन्त; √नद् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) विशेषण

• वीणा-वेणु-निनाद-आढ्यम्: abounding in the sounds of vīṇā and flute
• वीणा-वेणु-निनाद-आढ्यम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीणा (प्रातिपदिक) + वेणु (प्रातिपदिक) + निनाद (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वेद-वाद-अभिनादितम्: echoing with Vedic recitations
• वेद-वाद-अभिनादितम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + वाद (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिनादित (कृदन्त; √नद् (धातु) + अभि-उपसर्ग + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त विशेषण

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing the scene to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Devaṅganāḥ
• Apsaras
• Veda
• Vīṇā
• Veṇu

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, by emphasizing sacred sound—Vedic recitation and divine music—as an outer expression of inner order (ṛta) that points the mind toward the Self through śruti and disciplined attention.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds śravaṇa (reverent listening) and mantra/veda-pāṭha as supports for concentration; in the Kurma Purāṇa’s broader teaching, such regulated engagement with sacred sound becomes an aid to dhyāna and devotional steadiness.

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

Not explicitly; however, the shared Purāṇic emphasis on Vedic sound, devotion, and sanctified worship forms common ground for the Kurma Purāṇa’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis, where the same śruti supports realization and worship across both traditions.