Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

Avimukta-Māhātmya — Vyāsa in Vārāṇasī and Śiva’s Secret Teaching of Liberation

Devanagari script

तत्र देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सयक्षोरगराक्षसाः / उपासते मां सततं देवदेवं पितामहम्

Transliteration

tatra devāḥ sagandharvāḥ sayakṣoragarākṣasāḥ / upāsate māṃ satataṃ devadevaṃ pitāmaham

Translation

Dort verehren die Devas, zusammen mit Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Nāgas (Uraga) und Rākṣasas, Mich unablässig—Mich, den Gott der Götter, den uranfänglichen Pitāmaha.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (there)

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• सगन्धर्वाः: together with Gandharvas
• सगन्धर्वाः: कर्ता (Co-subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सह-समास/उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (गन्धर्वैः सह)

• सयक्ष: together with Yakṣas
• सयक्ष: कर्ता (Co-subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सह-समास (यक्षैः सह)

• उरग: serpents
• उरग: कर्ता (Co-subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (समाहार-समुच्चय in list)

• राक्षसाः: Rākṣasas
• राक्षसाः: कर्ता (Co-subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• उपासते: worship; attend upon
• उपासते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• माम्: me
• माम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial use: continually)

• देवदेवम्: God of gods
• देवदेवम्: कर्म (Appositional object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानां देवः)

• पितामहम्: the grandsire
• पितामहम्: कर्म (Appositional object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; देवदेवम्-समनाधिकरण (apposition)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking in self-revelation/praise-context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Gandharvas
• Yakshas
• Uraga (Nagas)
• Rakshasas
• Devadeva (Supreme Lord)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the Lord “Devadeva” and “Pitāmaha,” the verse presents the Supreme as the transcendent source above all classes of beings—worthy of constant upāsanā—implying a single highest reality underlying the cosmic hierarchy.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The key practice is satata-upāsanā—steady, uninterrupted worship/attention—aligned with Purāṇic yoga as continuous remembrance and devotion that stabilizes the mind toward Īśvara.

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

Using the non-sectarian epithet “Devadeva” for the Supreme supports the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: the highest Lord is one and is approached through unified devotion beyond rigid Shaiva–Vaishnava separation.