Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Devanagari script

अस्मिन् स्थाने पुरा दैत्यो हस्ती भूत्वा भवान्तिकम् / ब्राह्मणान् हन्तुमायातो ये ऽत्र नित्यमुपासते

Transliteration

asmin sthāne purā daityo hastī bhūtvā bhavāntikam / brāhmaṇān hantumāyāto ye 'tra nityamupāsate

Translation

In this very place, long ago, a demon—having taken the form of an elephant—came close by, intending to kill the Brāhmaṇas who here constantly worship (the Lord).

Word by Word

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुं/नपुं; सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• स्थाने: place
• स्थाने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb of time: formerly)

• दैत्यः: a demon
• दैत्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हस्ती: an elephant
• हस्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; (इकारान्त रूप: हस्ती)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु) + क्त्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having become)

• भव-अन्तिकम्: near Bhava (Śiva)
• भव-अन्तिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भवस्य अन्तिकम् = near Bhava/Śiva)

• ब्राह्मणान्: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• हन्तुम्: to kill
• हन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) + तुमुन्
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive); प्रयोजन (to kill)

• आयातः: came, arrived
• आयातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु) + आ (उपसर्ग) + क्त (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (having come/arrived)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb of place: here)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative: always)

• उपासते: worship
• उपासते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present); प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic sage describing the tīrtha’s ancient episode)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Daitya
• Hastin (elephant form)
• Brāhmaṇas
• Bhava (Śiva)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes steadfast upāsanā (devotional worship) and the sanctity of a tīrtha where divine protection operates—implying that the Supreme is approached through constant devotion rather than mere external power.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights nitya-upāsanā—regular, disciplined worship as a core sādhana. In Kurma Purana’s broader teaching, such steady practice aligns with purification, restraint, and devotion that support higher yogic realization.

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

By locating the event “near Bhava (Śiva)” while describing devoted worshippers, it reflects the Purāṇa’s integrated sacred landscape where Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava devotion coexist, reinforcing a non-sectarian unity of divine protection.