Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 185

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

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वान्धकं देवगणाः शूलप्रोतं पितामहः / प्रणेमुरीश्वरं देवं भैरवं भवमोचकम्

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvāndhakaṃ devagaṇāḥ śūlaprotaṃ pitāmahaḥ / praṇemurīśvaraṃ devaṃ bhairavaṃ bhavamocakam

Translation

Als die Scharen der Götter Andhaka am Dreizack aufgespießt sahen, verneigten sie sich zusammen mit Pitāmaha (Brahmā) vor dem Herrn: dem göttlichen Bhairava, dem Befreier aus dem Saṃsāra.

Word by Word

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा/त्वान्त), indeclinable gerund; 'having seen'

• andhakam: Andhaka
• andhakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: andhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• devagaṇāḥ: the hosts of gods
• devagaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; तत्पुरुषः (देवानां गणाः)

• śūlaprotam: impaled on the trident
• śūlaprotam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūla + prota (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (शूले प्रोतः = impaled on a trident); qualifies andhakam

• pitāmahaḥ: Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• pitāmahaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitāmaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; in apposition with devagaṇāḥ (listing another subject)

• praṇemuḥ: bowed down
• praṇemuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + nam (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ? actually Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect/Past), Parasmaipada; 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• īśvaram: to the Lord
• īśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• devam: the god
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; apposition to īśvaram

• bhairavam: Bhairava
• bhairavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhairava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; apposition to īśvaram

• bhavamocakam: liberator from saṃsāra
• bhavamocakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhava + mocaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः (भवस्य मोचकः = liberator from worldly existence); qualifies īśvaram/devam

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (Sūta/Vyāsa tradition), describing the devas’ response

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Andhaka
• Devagaṇa (the gods)
• Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• Īśvara
• Bhairava (Shiva)
• Śūla (trident)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling Bhairava “Īśvara” and “bhava-mocaka,” the verse points to the Supreme Lord as the transcendent power who ends bhava (saṃsāric becoming), implying liberation comes through realizing and taking refuge in that highest divine reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

While no technique is listed explicitly, the verse foregrounds praṇāma (reverent surrender) to Īśvara—an essential devotional discipline aligned with Pāśupata-oriented Shiva-bhakti and īśvara-praṇidhāna as a liberating spiritual attitude.

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

It presents Shiva (as Bhairava/Īśvara) in the supreme, liberation-granting role, consistent with the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology where ultimate divinity and mokṣa-bestowing power are affirmed across Shaiva–Vaishnava frames rather than treated as mutually exclusive.