Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 70

Genealogies of Yadus and Vṛṣṇis; Navaratha’s Refuge to Sarasvatī; Rise of Sāttvata Tradition; Prelude to Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma Incarnation

Devanagari script

रोहिणी च महाभागा वसुदेवस्य शोभना / असूत पत्नी संकर्षं रामं ज्येष्ठं हलायुधम्

Transliteration

rohiṇī ca mahābhāgā vasudevasya śobhanā / asūta patnī saṃkarṣaṃ rāmaṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ halāyudham

Translation

Rohiṇī, die glückverheißende und strahlende Gemahlin Vasudevas, gebar Saṅkarṣaṇa—Rāma, den Erstgeborenen, den Träger der Pflugwaffe.

Word by Word

• rohiṇī: Rohiṇī (proper name)
• rohiṇī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rohiṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

• mahā-bhāgā: very fortunate
• mahā-bhāgā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + bhāgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: 'greatly fortunate'

• vasudevasya: of Vasudeva
• vasudevasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasudeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• śobhanā: beautiful/auspicious
• śobhanā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śobhanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying Rohiṇī/patnī

• asūta: gave birth to
• asūta: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sū (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• patnī: wife
• patnī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); in apposition to Rohiṇī

• saṃkarṣam: Saṃkarṣa (Balarāma)
• saṃkarṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃkarṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• rāmam: Rāma
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); in apposition

• jyeṣṭham: elder
• jyeṣṭham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jyeṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying Saṃkarṣa/Rāma

• halāyudham: Halāyudha (plough-weaponed)
• halāyudham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hala + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); तृतीया-तत्पुरुष: 'one whose weapon is a plough' (epithet)

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (Sūta-style narration within the Kurma Purana’s genealogical account)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Rohiṇī
• Vasudeva
• Saṅkarṣaṇa
• Rāma (Balarāma)
• Halāyudha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Directly, it does not define Ātman; it situates the divine order through sacred lineage, implying that cosmic governance (dharma) manifests through divinely empowered births such as Saṅkarṣaṇa.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yogic technique is taught in this verse; it functions as narrative groundwork. In the Kurma Purana, such genealogical framing supports later teachings (including the Ishvara Gita) by establishing dharmic continuity and divine agency.

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

This verse is Vaishnava-genealogical and does not explicitly mention Śiva; within the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis, such Vishnu-centered narratives coexist with Śaiva-Pāśupata instruction, presenting complementary paths within one dharmic framework.