Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

Devī-tattva, Śakti–Śaktimān doctrine, Kāla–Māyā cosmology, and Māheśvara Yoga instruction

Devanagari script

एकादशैते कथिता रुद्रास्त्रिभुवनेश्वराः / कपालोशादयो विप्रा देवकार्ये नियोजिताः

Transliteration

ekādaśaite kathitā rudrāstribhuvaneśvarāḥ / kapālośādayo viprā devakārye niyojitāḥ

Translation

Ces onze Rudras sont proclamés seigneurs des trois mondes. À commencer par Kapālośa et les autres, ô brahmanes, ils sont établis pour l’œuvre des dieux, l’administration divine.

Word by Word

• ekādaśa: eleven
• ekādaśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekādaśa (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: Numeral used adjectivally; (here) Masculine, Nominative, Plural agreeing with 'rudrāḥ'

• ete: these
• ete: Karta (कर्ता; of passive 'kathitāḥ')
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; demonstrative pronoun

• kathitāḥ: have been described
• kathitāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kath (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta; Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; predicate with 'ete'

• rudrāḥ: Rudras
• rudrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; in apposition to 'ete'

• tribhuvaneśvarāḥ: lords of the three worlds
• tribhuvaneśvarāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri-bhuvana-īśvara (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + भुवन + ईश्वर)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; epithet of Rudras

• kapāla-uśā-ādayaḥ: Kapāla, Uśā and others
• kapāla-uśā-ādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to rudrāḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapāla + uśā + ādi (प्रातिपदिक; कपाल + उशा + आदि)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; list-introducing compound meaning 'Kapāla, Uśā, etc.'

• viprāḥ: sages/brāhmaṇas
• viprāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; apposition

• devakārye: in divine work
• devakārye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva-kārya (प्रातिपदिक; देव + कार्य)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; sphere/purpose

• niyojitāḥ: were appointed/assigned
• niyojitāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-yuj (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta; Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; predicate

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rudras
• Tribhuvana (three worlds)
• Kapālośa

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting the Rudras as world-governing powers appointed to cosmic functions, the verse implies an ordered universe where divine agencies operate under a higher, singular sovereignty—supporting the Ishvara Gita’s view that ultimate reality governs through delegated manifestations.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse is not a direct meditation instruction; it supports Pāśupata-oriented discipline indirectly by framing devotion and practice within a cosmos guided by Śiva’s Rudra-forms—encouraging reverence, duty (dharma), and alignment with divine order as prerequisites for yogic steadiness.

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

Spoken within the Kurma Purana’s Ishvara Gita setting (Vishnu as Kūrma teaching), it affirms Rudra-forms as cosmic authorities while preserving a unified theistic framework—typical of the text’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis where Vishnu teaches truths honoring Śiva’s manifestations.