Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वोपमन्योस्तद् वाक्यं भगवान् केशिमर्दनः / व्याजहार महायोगी वचनं प्रणिपत्य तम्

Transliteration

śrutvopamanyostad vākyaṃ bhagavān keśimardanaḥ / vyājahāra mahāyogī vacanaṃ praṇipatya tam

Translation

Als der erhabene Herr, der Bezwinger Keśins, der große Yogi, die Worte Upamanyus vernommen hatte, verneigte er sich vor ihm und sprach dann zur Erwiderung.

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable); पूर्वकाल क्रिया (having heard)

• उपमन्योः: of Upamanyu
• उपमन्योः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपमन्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण of वाक्यम्

• वाक्यम्: statement, words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• केशिमर्दनः: slayer of Keśin
• केशिमर्दनः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + मर्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); ‘केशिनः मर्दनः’ (slayer of Keśin), उपाधि

• व्याजहार: spoke/uttered
• व्याजहार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• महायोगी: the great yogin
• महायोगी: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); ‘महान् योगी’ (great yogin), समनाधिकरण with भगवान्

• वचनम्: speech, words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• प्रणिपत्य: having bowed down
• प्रणिपत्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-नि-पत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (gerund/absolutive) in -य (praṇipatya), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकाल क्रिया (having bowed)

• तम्: to him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of praṇipatya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator) describing Lord Vishnu’s response to Upamanyu

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Upamanyu
• Keshimardana (Vishnu/Krishna)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it presents the Supreme (Bhagavān) as “mahāyogī,” implying mastery of inner realization; the Atman-oriented path is approached through disciplined yoga and reverent receptivity to spiritual instruction.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights yogic discipline through conduct: humility, prostration, and attentive listening to a realized teacher—foundational attitudes that support higher practices (dhyāna, samādhi) emphasized in Kurma Purana’s yoga-oriented teachings.

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

By portraying Vishnu (Keśimardana) as a “mahāyogī” who bows to a sage associated with Shaiva currents, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where Vaishnava and Shaiva holiness mutually honor one another.