Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

Adhyāya 25 — Liṅga-māhātmya (The Chapter on the Liṅga): Hari’s Śiva-Worship and the Fiery Pillar Theophany

Devanagari script

ततः स भगवान् कृष्णो मार्कण्डेयं समागतम् / ननामोत्थाय शिरसा स्वासनं च ददौ हरिः

Transliteration

tataḥ sa bhagavān kṛṣṇo mārkaṇḍeyaṃ samāgatam / nanāmotthāya śirasā svāsanaṃ ca dadau hariḥ

Translation

Then the Blessed Lord Kṛṣṇa, seeing Mārkaṇḍeya arrive, rose up and bowed with his head in reverence, and Hari offered him his own seat.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: कालाधिकरण-निर्देशक (Temporal indicator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्/तदनन्तरम् (ablatival adverb: 'then/thereupon')

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• कृष्णः: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• मार्कण्डेयम्: Mārkaṇḍeya
• मार्कण्डेयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्कण्डेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• समागतम्: who had arrived
• समागतम्: कर्म (Karma/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-√गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past active participle sense; formally क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; 'arrived' qualifying Mārkaṇḍeya

• ननाम: bowed
• ननाम: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• उत्थाय: having risen
• उत्थाय: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action modifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√स्था (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (prior action)

• शिरसा: with (his) head
• शिरसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• स्व-आसनम्: his own seat
• स्व-आसनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; 'स्वासन' = स्वस्य आसनम् (his own seat)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

Speaker

Narrator (Purana narrator describing Lord Krishna’s conduct toward Sage Markandeya)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Markandeya
• Hari

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying Bhagavān as supremely powerful yet humble before a ṛṣi, the verse implies that true greatness is aligned with dharma—self-mastery and reverence—qualities associated with realization of the higher Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No technique is taught directly; the verse highlights the yogic foundation of humility (vinaya), self-restraint, and honoring realized sages—ethical disciplines that support higher practices such as Pāśupata-oriented devotion, japa, and contemplation found elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

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

Hari (Vishnu/Krishna) honoring the great sage reflects the Purana’s synthesis: devotion and dharma are shared spiritual standards across Shaiva and Vaishnava paths, supporting a non-sectarian, unity-oriented outlook.