Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

Cosmic Night, Nārāyaṇa as Brahmā, and the Varāha Raising of the Earth

Devanagari script

जलक्रीडासु रुचिरं वाराहं रुपमास्थितः / अधृष्यं मनसाप्यन्यैर्वाङ्मयं ब्रह्मसंज्ञितम्

Transliteration

jalakrīḍāsu ruciraṃ vārāhaṃ rupamāsthitaḥ / adhṛṣyaṃ manasāpyanyairvāṅmayaṃ brahmasaṃjñitam

Translation

Während Er in den Wassern spielte, nahm Er die liebliche Gestalt Varāhas, des Ebers, an; doch bleibt Er unangreifbar, selbst für den Geist anderer — Er ist Brahman, das Absolute, als Wort (Vāc) verkörpert.

Word by Word

• जल-क्रीडासु: in water-sports
• जल-क्रीडासु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7 विभक्ति), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष

• रुचिरम्: beautiful
• रुचिरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुचिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; विशेषण

• वाराहम्: boar-like/of a boar
• वाराहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाराह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; विशेषण

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• आस्थितः: having assumed
• आस्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः

• अधृष्यम्: unassailable
• अधृष्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधृष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मनसा: by mind
• मनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• अन्यैः: by others
• अन्यैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3 विभक्ति), बहुवचन

• वाङ्-मयम्: made of speech
• वाङ्-मयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष; विशेषण ‘consisting of speech’

• ब्रह्म-संज्ञितम्: called ‘Brahman’
• ब्रह्म-संज्ञितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञित (√ज्ञा धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; तत्पुरुष ‘named as Brahman’

Speaker

Vyasa (narrator) describing the Supreme Lord’s manifestation

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Varaha
• Brahman
• Vāc (sacred word)
• Supreme Lord (Hari/Vishnu)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as simultaneously manifest (taking the Varāha form) and transcendent—beyond the reach of ordinary mind—identified with Brahman, the ultimate reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implies a contemplative approach: meditation should move from form (avatāra-dhyāna) to the formless, ungraspable Brahman, recognizing the Lord as vāṅmaya—accessible through mantra, śruti, and disciplined inner inquiry rather than mere conceptual thought.

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

By defining the manifest deity as Brahman itself, the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the same supreme reality can be praised as Hari or as the supreme principle revered in Śaiva traditions, without contradiction.