Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Lineage of Vyāsas, Division of the Veda, and Vāsudeva/Īśāna as the Veda-Known Supreme

Devanagari script

ऋग्वेदश्रावकं पैलं जग्राह स महामुनिः / यजुर्वेदप्रवक्तारं वैशम्पायनमेव च

Transliteration

ṛgvedaśrāvakaṃ pailaṃ jagrāha sa mahāmuniḥ / yajurvedapravaktāraṃ vaiśampāyanameva ca

Translation

Jener große Weise nahm Paila als Rezitator und Überlieferer des Ṛgveda an und ebenso Vaiśampāyana als Lehrer und Ausleger des Yajurveda.

Word by Word

• ṛg-veda-śrāvakam: the reciter of the Ṛgveda
• ṛg-veda-śrāvakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛg-veda + śrāvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; तत्पुरुष ‘reciter/student of the Ṛgveda’; components: ṛgveda (genitive relation) + śrāvaka

• pailam: Paila
• pailam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; in apposition to previous

• jagrāha: appointed
• jagrāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular; ‘took/appointed/accepted’

• sa: he
• sa: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; pronoun

• mahāmuniḥ: the great sage
• mahāmuniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; कर्मधारय

• yajur-veda-pravaktāram: the expounder of the Yajurveda
• yajur-veda-pravaktāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajur-veda + pravaktṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; तत्पुरुष ‘expounder of the Yajurveda’; components: yajurveda + pravaktṛ

• vaiśampāyanam: Vaiśampāyana
• vaiśampāyanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśampāyana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• eva: indeed
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing Vyāsa’s arrangement of Vedic transmission

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa
• Paila
• Vaishampayana
• Rigveda
• Yajurveda

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly define Ātman; it supports the traditional framework in which knowledge of Brahman/Ātman is preserved—through śruti maintained by disciplined guru–śiṣya transmission.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yoga practice is taught in this line; the emphasis is on śravaṇa (authoritative hearing/recitation) and pravacana (systematic teaching), which are foundational disciplines that later support yogic and contemplative instruction in the Kurma Purana.

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

This verse is neutral on Shiva–Vishnu theology; it focuses on Vyāsa’s organization of Vedic lineages, a common sacred foundation used by both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava teachings within the Kurma Purana.