Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 61

Prākṛta Sṛṣṭi and Pralaya: From Pradhāna to Brahmāṇḍa; Trimūrti Samanvaya

Devanagari script

नराणामयनो यस्मात् तेन नारायणः स्मृतः / हरः संसारहरणाद् विभुत्वाद् विष्णुरुच्यते

Transliteration

narāṇāmayano yasmāt tena nārāyaṇaḥ smṛtaḥ / haraḥ saṃsāraharaṇād vibhutvād viṣṇurucyate

Translation

Because He is the refuge and final resort (ayana) of all beings (naras), He is remembered as Nārāyaṇa. Because He removes transmigratory existence, He is called Hara; and because of His all-pervading lordly majesty, He is called Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• narāṇām: Of men/beings (or waters)
• narāṇām: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• ayanaḥ: Abode/Refuge/Path
• ayanaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• yasmāt: Because/From which
• yasmāt: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• tena: Therefore/By that
• tena: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• nārāyaṇaḥ: Narayana
• nārāyaṇaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म) in passive sense
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (nara + ayana)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• smṛtaḥ: Remembered/Called
• smṛtaḥ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया) equivalent
• Type: Adjective
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• haraḥ: Hara (Remover)
• haraḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म) in passive sense
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• saṃsāraharaṇāt: Due to removing worldly existence (Samsara)
• saṃsāraharaṇāt: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃsāraharaṇa (saṃsāra + haraṇa)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• vibhutvāt: Due to omnipresence/power
• vibhutvāt: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhutva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• viṣṇuḥ: Vishnu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म) in passive sense
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ucyate: Is said/called
• ucyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Passive (Karmaṇi), Present Tense (Lat), 3rd Person, Singular

Speaker

Narratorial/teachings section of the Kurma Purana (definitional praise of the Supreme as Hari–Hara)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Hara
• Vishnu

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the single, all-pervading Lord who becomes known through functional epithets—refuge (Nārāyaṇa), remover of bondage (Hara), and pervasive majesty (Viṣṇu)—indicating one reality described through different powers.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse is not a technical yoga-instruction, but it supplies a meditative support (ālambana): contemplation on the Lord as the refuge and as the remover of saṁsāra, aligning devotion and discernment toward liberation—an orientation consistent with later Pāśupata-leaning soteriology in the Kurma tradition.

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

By pairing Hara (Śiva) and Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa as names grounded in the same liberating and all-pervading sovereignty, it implies a synthetic, non-sectarian vision where Hari and Hara signify one supreme Īśvara through different aspects.