Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 182

Dakṣa’s Progeny, Nṛsiṃha–Varāha Avatāras, and Andhaka’s Defeat

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

त्वं यत्रज्ञस्त्वं वषट्कारस्त्वं धाता हरिरव्ययः / त्वं ब्रह्मा त्वं महादेवस्त्वं धाम परमं पदम्

Transliteration

tvaṃ yatrajñastvaṃ vaṣaṭkārastvaṃ dhātā hariravyayaḥ / tvaṃ brahmā tvaṃ mahādevastvaṃ dhāma paramaṃ padam

Translation

You are the knower of the sacrificial field; you are the vashaṭ-call itself. You are the Sustainer—Hari, the imperishable. You are Brahmā; you are Mahādeva; you are the supreme abode, the highest state.

Word by Word

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• yatrajñaḥ: knower of the sacrifice
• yatrajñaḥ: Pradhāna (प्रधान/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यज्ञस्य ज्ञः = knower of sacrifice)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative, Singular

• vaṣaṭkāraḥ: the vaṣaṭ-exclamation
• vaṣaṭkāraḥ: Pradhāna (प्रधान/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaṣaṭ + kāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः (वषट्-शब्दस्य कारः/उच्चारणम्)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative, Singular

• dhātā: creator / sustainer
• dhātā: Pradhāna (प्रधान/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agent noun (कर्तृवाचक)

• hariḥ: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• hariḥ: Pradhāna (प्रधान/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• avyayaḥ: imperishable
• avyayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; विशेषणम् (qualifying hariḥ)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative, Singular

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Pradhāna (प्रधान/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular (irregular stem brahman → brahmā)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative, Singular

• mahādevaḥ: Mahādeva
• mahādevaḥ: Pradhāna (प्रधान/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; कर्मधारयः (महान् देवः)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative, Singular

• dhāma: abode / splendor
• dhāma: Pradhāna (प्रधान/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate nominative

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; विशेषणम् (qualifying padam)

• padam: state / place / goal
• padam: Pradhāna (प्रधान/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; in apposition with dhāma (समानााधिकरण)

Speaker

A devotee/sage hymning the Supreme Lord in the Ishvara-Gita discourse (addressing the one Ishvara as both Hari and Mahadeva)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Brahma
• Mahadeva (Shiva)
• Vaṣaṭkāra (Vedic sacrifice)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as all-inclusive: the knower, the ritual power, and the highest goal—indicating one imperishable Reality that pervades function (yajña) and final liberation (paramaṃ padam).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Ishvara-upāsanā (single-point contemplation of Ishvara) by training the mind to see every sacred act—especially yajña and mantra-utterance—as the Lord, aligning with the Kurma Purana’s Pashupata-oriented interiorization of worship.

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

By declaring the addressed Lord to be both Hari and Mahādeva, it affirms a synthetic, non-sectarian vision: Shiva and Vishnu are expressions/titles of the one supreme Ishvara.