Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

Ikṣvāku-vaṃśa (Genealogy) culminating in Rāma; Setu-liṅga Māhātmya; Continuation through Kuśa and Lava

Devanagari script

अदृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणो रामः सीतामाकुलितेन्द्रियौ / दुः खशोकाभिसंतप्तौ बभूवतुररिन्दमौ

Transliteration

adṛṣṭvā lakṣmaṇo rāmaḥ sītāmākulitendriyau / duḥ khaśokābhisaṃtaptau babhūvaturarindamau

Translation

Als sie Sītā nicht sahen, gerieten Rāma und Lakṣmaṇa—Bezwinger der Feinde—in Aufruhr der Sinne, vom Schmerz und Kummer verzehrt.

Word by Word

• अदृष्ट्वा: not seeing / having not found
• अदृष्ट्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘not having seen’

• लक्ष्मणः: Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सीताम्: Sita
• सीताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आकुलितेन्द्रियौ: with agitated senses (both of them)
• आकुलितेन्द्रियौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकुलित + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण; कर्मधारय (आकुलितानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य)

• दुःखशोकाभिसंतप्तौ: tormented by grief and sorrow (both)
• दुःखशोकाभिसंतप्तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख + शोक + अभि + संतप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष (दुःख-शोकाभ्यां अभिसंतप्तौ)

• बभूवतुः: became/were
• बभूवतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• अरिन्दमौ: subduers of enemies (both)
• अरिन्दमौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरि + दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (अरिं दमयतः)

Speaker

Narrator (Purana narrator describing the episode; not a direct speech by Lord Kurma)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Sita

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it shows the agitation of the senses and mind under grief; the Kurma Purana’s later yoga-teachings (especially in the Upari-bhaga) contrast this with steadiness rooted in the Self, where sorrow does not overpower awareness.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse itself is descriptive, but it foregrounds a key yoga problem—ākulitendriya (disturbed senses). In the Kurma Purana’s yoga-shastra framing, such disturbance is addressed through restraint (indriya-nigraha), steadiness of mind, and devotion to Ishvara as the stabilizing refuge.

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

It does not explicitly mention Shiva-Vishnu unity; instead, it uses an Itihasa episode to illustrate human suffering, which the Kurma Purana later resolves through integrated Shaiva-Vaishnava spiritual instruction—devotion and yoga leading beyond grief.