Shloka 25

Genealogies from Purūravas to the Haihayas; Jayadhvaja’s Vaiṣṇava Resolve, Sage-Adjudication, and the Slaying of Videha

Devanagari script

राज्यं पालयतावश्यं भगवान् पुरुषोत्तमः / पूजनीयो यतो विष्णुः पालको जगतो हरिः

Transliteration

rājyaṃ pālayatāvaśyaṃ bhagavān puruṣottamaḥ / pūjanīyo yato viṣṇuḥ pālako jagato hariḥ

Translation

For one who governs a kingdom, the Blessed Supreme Person, Puruṣottama, must certainly be upheld as the guiding Lord. Viṣṇu is to be worshipped, since Hari is the protector of the world.

Word by Word

• राज्यम्: kingdom; rule
• राज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पालयता: protect; govern
• पालयता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पालय् (धातु, णिजन्त from पाल्/पालय्)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अवश्यम्: certainly; necessarily
• अवश्यम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अवश्य (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययभाव)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पुरुषोत्तमः: the सर्वोत्तम पुरुष; Supreme Person
• पुरुषोत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (उत्तमः पुरुषः)

• पूजनीयः: worthy to be worshipped
• पूजनीयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज् (धातु) → पूजनीय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, अनीयर्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; अनीयर्-प्रत्यय (gerundive: ‘to be worshipped’)

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतु-अव्यय (causal indeclinable: ‘because/since’)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पालकः: protector
• पालकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on raja-dharma (kingly duty) within the Purva-bhaga discourse tradition

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Hari
• Purushottama

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames the Supreme as Puruṣottama (the highest Person) whose lordship underwrites worldly order; the king’s righteous rule is grounded in alignment with that supreme, all-protecting reality (Hari).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes bhakti-oriented discipline for rulers: worship (pūjā) and constant remembrance of Hari as the inner regulator of dharma—supporting steadiness of mind and ethical restraint, which are practical foundations for yogic self-governance.

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

While naming Viṣṇu/Hari explicitly, the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis treats divine protection and dharma as one supreme principle expressed through multiple forms; worship of Hari here aligns with the Purana’s integrative Shaiva–Vaishnava vision of a single supreme guardianship.