Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 146

Dakṣa’s Progeny, Nṛsiṃha–Varāha Avatāras, and Andhaka’s Defeat

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

येन तद् विजितं पूर्वं देवीनां शतमुत्तमम् / समागतं दैत्यसैन्यमीश्दर्शनवाञ्छया

Transliteration

yena tad vijitaṃ pūrvaṃ devīnāṃ śatamuttamam / samāgataṃ daityasainyamīśdarśanavāñchayā

Translation

Durch Ihn wurde einst die erhabenste Schar von hundert Göttinnen bezwungen; nun hat sich das Heer der Daityas versammelt, verlangend nach dem Darśana, der Schau des Herrn (Īśa).

Word by Word

• येन: by which/whereby
• येन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (करण) एकवचनम्; relative pronoun in instrumental singular

• तत्: that (it)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; demonstrative pronoun

• विजितम्: conquered
• विजितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√जि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; agrees with तत्

• पूर्वम्: formerly/before
• पूर्वम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• देवीनाम्: of the goddesses
• देवीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध) बहुवचनम्; genitive plural

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; numeral noun

• उत्तमम्: excellent/supreme
• उत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifies शतम्)

• समागतम्: assembled/come together
• समागतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ√गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; agrees with दैत्यसैन्यम्

• दैत्यसैन्यम्: the army of the Daityas
• दैत्यसैन्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दैत्यानां सैन्यम्)

• ईश-दर्शन-वाञ्छया: out of desire to see the Lord
• ईश-दर्शन-वाञ्छया: Hetu/Kāraṇa (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक) + वाञ्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचनम्; हेतौ/निमित्ते करणत्वेन (instrumental of cause); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमासः (ईशस्य दर्शनस्य वाञ्छया)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting the episode to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Daityas
• Devīs
• Īśa (the Lord)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames the Lord (Īśa) as the irresistible spiritual center—even hostile powers gather for darśana—hinting that ultimate sovereignty belongs to the one Supreme Reality whom all beings, knowingly or not, seek.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights darśana as a transformative aim—seeking direct vision of Īśa—an orientation consistent with Purāṇic bhakti and with later Kurma Purāṇa teachings where devotion and disciplined approach culminate in experiential realization.

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

By using the title Īśa (“the Lord”) in a Kurma Purāṇa setting, it supports the text’s synthetic theism: the supreme Lord approached for darśana is understood in a way that accommodates both Shaiva and Vaishnava identifications.