Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 16

Devadāru (Dāruvana) Forest: The Delusion of Ritual Pride, the Liṅga Crisis, and the Teaching of Jñāna–Pāśupata Yoga

Devanagari script

गायन्ति नृत्यन्ति विलासबाह्या नारीगणा मायिनमेकमीशम् / दृष्ट्वा सपत्नीकमतीवकान्त- मिच्छन्त्यथालिङ्गनमाचरन्ति

Transliteration

gāyanti nṛtyanti vilāsabāhyā nārīgaṇā māyinamekamīśam / dṛṣṭvā sapatnīkamatīvakānta- micchantyathāliṅganamācaranti

Translation

Singend und tanzend mit spielerischen Gebärden erblickten die Scharen der Frauen den einen höchsten Herrn—Īśvara, den wunderbaren Verzauberer durch Māyā. Obwohl seine göttliche Gemahlin zugegen war, erschien er von erlesenster Schönheit; und von Sehnsucht überwältigt, begehrten sie, ihn zu umarmen, und taten es.

Word by Word

• गायन्ति: they sing
• गायन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• नृत्यन्ति: they dance
• नृत्यन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• विलास-बाह्याः: outwardly playful/with outward coquetry
• विलास-बाह्याः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विलास (प्रातिपदिक) + बाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• नारी-गणाः: groups of women
• नारी-गणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• मायिनम्: the magician/illusionist
• मायिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• एकम्: one, single
• एकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ईशम्: the Lord
• ईशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• स-पत्नीकम्: with his wife
• स-पत्नीकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक) + क (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः = 'पत्नी सहितः यस्य सः' (one who has a wife)

• अतीव: exceedingly
• अतीव: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतीव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• कान्तम्: beautiful, beloved
• कान्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• इच्छन्ति: they desire
• इच्छन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/समुच्चयार्थक (then/and then)

• आलिङ्गनम्: embrace
• आलिङ्गनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ + लिङ्ग् (धातु) → आलिङ्गन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आचरन्ति: they perform/do
• आचरन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

Speaker

Primary narrator within the Purana’s discourse (sage-narration describing the Lord’s māyā and līlā)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Īśa (the Supreme Lord)
• Māyā
• Pati/patnī (the Lord with His consort)
• Nārīgaṇa (celestial/attendant women)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling Him “the One Lord” and “the wielder of māyā,” the verse implies a single sovereign Reality that can appear within enchanting forms while remaining the underlying unity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse functions as a cautionary lens for Yoga: sensory fascination and attraction arise through māyā; therefore, discipline (saṃyama/vairāgya) is needed so the mind does not mistake divine appearance for an object of mere enjoyment.

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

Using the non-sectarian title “Īśa” and stressing the Lord as the one controller of māyā, the verse aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where supreme lordship is expressed in shared, trans-sectarian terms rather than rigid division.