Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Madhu–Kaiṭabha, Nārāyaṇa’s Yoga-Nidrā, Rudra’s Manifestation, and the Aṣṭamūrti–Trimūrti Teaching

Devanagari script

अवाप्य संज्ञां गोविन्दात् पद्मयोनिः पितामहः / प्रजाः स्त्रष्टुमनास्तेपे तपः परमदुश्चरम्

Transliteration

avāpya saṃjñāṃ govindāt padmayoniḥ pitāmahaḥ / prajāḥ straṣṭumanāstepe tapaḥ paramaduścaram

Translation

Ayant reçu de Govinda jusqu’à sa propre désignation, l’Aïeul, Brahmā né du lotus, l’esprit tourné vers la création des êtres, accomplit une austérité d’une difficulté extrême.

Word by Word

• avāpya: having obtained
• avāpya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√āp (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; ल्यप्-रूप) of अव√आप् (to obtain): ‘having obtained’

• saṃjñām: instruction/awareness (recognition)
• saṃjñām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃjñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• govindāt: from Govinda
• govindāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: govinda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन)

• padma-yoniḥ: the lotus-born (Brahmā)
• padma-yoniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक) + yoni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि: ‘one whose womb/origin is a lotus’); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• pitāmahaḥ: the Grandfather (Brahmā)
• pitāmahaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitāmaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• prajāḥ: creatures/subjects
• prajāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sraṣṭum: to create
• sraṣṭum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sṛj (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्) of √सृज् (to create): ‘to create’

• manāḥ: mind/intention
• manāḥ: Karta-anvayi (कर्तृ-सम्बद्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially with implied ‘having mind/intention’

• āstepe: performed austerity
• āstepe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√tap (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद) of आ√तप् (to practice austerity/heat oneself)

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• parama-duścaram: supremely difficult to perform
• parama-duścaram: Karma-anvayi Viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + duścara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting the cosmogonic sequence within the Kurma Purana’s teaching tradition

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Govinda
• Brahma (Padmayoni, Pitamaha)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies a supreme source (Govinda) from whom even Brahmā receives identity and authority; creation proceeds not from an independent ego, but from alignment with the Supreme principle.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Tapas is emphasized—disciplined, sustained inner effort (yogic austerity) undertaken with a focused intention (saṅkalpa) to manifest dharma-ordered creation, resonant with the Kurma Purana’s stress on regulated practice.

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

While naming Govinda (a Vaiṣṇava epithet) as the supreme inspirer of creation, the verse supports the Purana’s integrative stance: the supreme Lord beyond sectarian division empowers cosmic functions that Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions both revere.