Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

मां प्रणम्य पुरीं गत्वा पालयामास मेदिनीम् / कालधर्मं गतः कालाच्छ्वेतद्वीपे मया सह

Transliteration

māṃ praṇamya purīṃ gatvā pālayāmāsa medinīm / kāladharmaṃ gataḥ kālācchvetadvīpe mayā saha

Translation

Having bowed to Me, he went to the royal city and ruled the earth. In due course, when the law of time came upon him, he departed at his appointed time—and now abides with Me in Śvetadvīpa.

Word by Word

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्)
• Form: Pronoun, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• praṇamya: having bowed
• praṇamya: Purvakalika Kriya (Prior Action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: praṇam (प्रणम्)
• Form: Lyap Pratyaya (Gerund)

• purīm: city
• purīm: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (पुरी)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Purvakalika Kriya (Prior Action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: gam (गम्)
• Form: Ktva Pratyaya (Gerund)

• pālayāmāsa: he protected/ruled
• pālayāmāsa: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pāl (पाल्)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect), Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular. Periphrastic Perfect

• medinīm: earth
• medinīm: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: medinī (मेदिनी)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• kāladharmam: law of time (death)
• kāladharmam: Karma (Object/कर्म) of gataḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāladharma (कालधर्म)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• gataḥ: gone/obtained
• gataḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gam (गम्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular. Kta Pratyaya

• kālāt: due to time
• kālāt: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (काल)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• śvetadvīpe: in Shvetadvipa (White Island)
• śvetadvīpe: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvetadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• mayā: with me
• mayā: Sahartha (Association/सहार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्)
• Form: Pronoun, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• saha: with
• saha: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (सह)
• Form: Preposition

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) speaking within the Purāṇic narration

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu)
• Śvetadvīpa
• Time (Kāla)
• Earth (Medinī)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies a Lord-centered liberation: the devotee-king, after fulfilling dharma, transcends mortal time (kāla-dharma) and attains proximity to the Supreme in Śvetadvīpa, suggesting the Self’s ultimate refuge is the Lord beyond time.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds bhakti as a yogic discipline—praṇāma (reverential surrender) coupled with dharma in action (ruling/protecting the earth). In the Kūrma Purāṇa’s broader yoga-ethic, inner devotion is validated through outer duty.

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

While Śvetadvīpa is explicitly Vaiṣṇava in imagery, the teaching aligns with the Purāṇa’s synthesis: liberation comes through surrender to the supreme Lord beyond kāla—an idea the text elsewhere harmonizes across Śiva-Viṣṇu unity.