Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 176

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

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वान्धकं समयान्तं भगवान् गरुडध्वजः / व्याजहार महादेवं भैरवं भूतिभूषणम्

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvāndhakaṃ samayāntaṃ bhagavān garuḍadhvajaḥ / vyājahāra mahādevaṃ bhairavaṃ bhūtibhūṣaṇam

Translation

Als der selige Herr, dessen Banner Garuḍa trägt, sah, dass die bestimmte Stunde von Andhakas Untergang nahe war, sprach er zu Mahādeva: „Bhairava, du mit heiliger Asche (Vibhūti) Geschmückter.“

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (prior action): "having seen"

• अन्धकम्: Andhaka
• अन्धकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्धक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• समयान्तम्: at the end of his allotted time
• समयान्तम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समय + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (समयस्य अन्तः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) अन्धकम्

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• गरुडध्वजः: he whose banner is Garuḍa (Viṣṇu)
• गरुडध्वजः: कर्तृविशेषण (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (गरुडः ध्वजः यस्य सः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भगवान् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• व्याजहार: spoke / addressed
• व्याजहार: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + हृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् देवः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भैरवम्: Bhairava
• भैरवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; महादेवम् इति समानाधिकरण-विशेषणम्

• भूतिभूषणम्: the ornament of sacred ash (or: of prosperity)
• भूतिभूषणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूति + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भूतेः/भूत्याः भूषणम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; महादेवम् इति समानाधिकरणम्

Speaker

Bhagavan Garuḍadhvaja (Lord Viṣṇu) addressing Mahādeva (Śiva/Bhairava)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Andhaka
• Garuḍadhvaja (Viṣṇu)
• Mahādeva (Śiva)
• Bhairava
• Bhūti (sacred ash)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting Viṣṇu directly addressing Śiva with reverence, the verse implicitly supports the Purāṇic vision of one Supreme Reality appearing as multiple divine forms—hinting that the highest Self is not divided by sectarian identity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit practice is taught in this line; however, the epithet “bhūtibhūṣaṇam” evokes Śaiva ascetic discipline (bhasma/holy ash, vairāgya), a hallmark of Pāśupata-oriented spirituality emphasized elsewhere in the Kūrma Purāṇa.

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

It depicts a respectful, cooperative divine relationship: Viṣṇu (Garuḍadhvaja) addresses Śiva (Mahādeva/Bhairava) as the authoritative power in the unfolding of Andhaka’s destined end, aligning with the Kūrma Purāṇa’s Shaiva–Vaiṣṇava synthesis.