Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

कदाचित् तत्र लीलार्थं देवकीनन्दवर्धनः / भ्राजमानः श्रीया कृष्णश्चचार गिरिकन्दरे

Transliteration

kadācit tatra līlārthaṃ devakīnandavardhanaḥ / bhrājamānaḥ śrīyā kṛṣṇaścacāra girikandare

Translation

Una vez allí, sólo por el juego divino, Kṛṣṇa, acrecentador del gozo de Devakī, resplandeciente de gloria auspiciosa, vagó por una caverna de la montaña.

Word by Word

• कदाचित्: once, at some time
• कदाचित्: कालाधिकरण (Kāla-adhikaraṇa/Temporal adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb: 'sometimes/once')

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: 'there')

• लीलार्थम्: for (the sake of) play
• लीलार्थम्: प्रयोजन (Prayojana/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: लीलायाः अर्थः) ; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (accusative of purpose)

• देवकीनन्दवर्धनः: the increaser of Devakī’s joy (Kṛṣṇa)
• देवकीनन्दवर्धनः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवकी + नन्द + वर्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (देवक्याः नन्दस्य वर्धनः)

• भ्राजमानः: shining, resplendent
• भ्राजमानः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्राज् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• श्रीया: with splendor/beauty
• श्रीया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (instrumental: 'with/by splendor')

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

• चचार: wandered, roamed
• चचार: क्रिया (Kriyā/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• गिरिकन्दरे: in a mountain cave
• गिरिकन्दरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि + कन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (गिरेः कन्दरम्)

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (Sūta/compilers’ narrative voice)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Devaki
• Shri (Lakshmi)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting Kṛṣṇa as self-luminous (bhrājamānaḥ śrīyā) and acting without necessity—only for līlā—it implies a sovereign, complete Reality whose actions do not arise from lack, but from freedom (svātantrya) and auspicious fullness.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No technique is prescribed directly; however, the imagery of the cave and the Lord’s radiant presence supports contemplative themes common in the Kurma Purana—interiorization (guhā/cave symbolism), steady attention, and remembrance (smaraṇa) of the divine as a support for yogic concentration.

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

This specific line centers on Viṣṇu-Kṛṣṇa’s līlā and Śrī; it does not explicitly mention Śiva. In the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis, such līlā-narratives coexist with Śaiva teachings (including Pāśupata-oriented Yoga), presenting a complementary rather than antagonistic theology.