Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35

Durjaya, Urvaśī, and the Expiation at Vārāṇasī

Genealogy and Sin-Removal through Viśveśvara

Devanagari script

तयासकृन्महाराजः प्रोक्तो ऽपि मदमोहितः / न तत्यजाथ तत्पार्श्वं तत्र संन्यस्तमानसः

Transliteration

tayāsakṛnmahārājaḥ prokto 'pi madamohitaḥ / na tatyajātha tatpārśvaṃ tatra saṃnyastamānasaḥ

Translation

Though she addressed and counseled him again and again, the great king—bewildered by pride and delusion—did not forsake her side; his mind was set down there, wholly bound in attachment.

Word by Word

• tayā: by her
• tayā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• asakṛt: repeatedly
• asakṛt: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: asakṛt (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• mahā-rājaḥ: the great king
• mahā-rājaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (उपसर्ग/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक) + rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• proktaḥ: (having been) spoken to / addressed
• proktaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Patient; implied ‘was spoken to’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+vac (धातु) → prokta (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; used predicatively

• api: even/though
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात)

• mada-mohitaḥ: deluded by intoxication/pride
• mada-mohitaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mada (प्रातिपदिक) + mohita (मुह् धातु से कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; adjective qualifying mahārājaḥ

• na: not
• na: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• tatyaja: abandoned
• tatyaja: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• atha: then/indeed
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, discourse particle (निपात)

• tat-pārśvam: her side
• tat-pārśvam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + pārśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of tyaj

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of place (देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• saṃnyasta-mānasaḥ: with his mind fixed (there)
• saṃnyasta-mānasaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃ+ni+as (धातु) → saṃnyasta (कृदन्त) + mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; adjective qualifying mahārājaḥ; ‘mind placed/settled’

Speaker

Purana narrator (Sūta/Vyāsa-tradition narrator describing the episode)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Mahārāja (the king)
• A woman addressed as 'she' (tayā)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it contrasts the bound mind—fixed on an external object through pride and delusion—with the yogic aim of turning the mind inward toward the Self beyond mada and moha.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to the need for citta-nigraha (restraint of mind) and vairāgya (dispassion): the king’s mind is ‘placed there’ in attachment, which Yoga seeks to reverse through discipline, discernment, and detachment.

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

This specific verse is ethical-psychological rather than sectarian; it supports the Purana’s synthesis by emphasizing inner purification (freedom from ego and delusion), a shared foundation for both Shaiva and Vaishnava soteriology.