Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 73

Dakṣa-yajña-bhaṅgaḥ — Dadhīci’s Teaching and the Destruction of Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

त्वमेव जगतः स्त्रष्टा शासिता चैव रक्षकः / अनुग्राह्यो भगवता दक्षश्चापि दिवौकसः

Transliteration

tvameva jagataḥ straṣṭā śāsitā caiva rakṣakaḥ / anugrāhyo bhagavatā dakṣaścāpi divaukasaḥ

Translation

Toi seul es le Créateur de l’univers, son Souverain et son Protecteur. Même Dakṣa, seigneur habile parmi les habitants du ciel, doit recevoir la grâce du Seigneur Bienheureux (Toi).

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्गे (contextual), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• एव: indeed/alone
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्रष्टा: creator
• स्रष्टा: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृज् (धातु) + तृ (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय) → स्रष्टृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्तृवाचक-तृन्त् (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• शासिता: ruler/governor
• शासिता: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास् (धातु) + तृ (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय) → शासितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्तृवाचक-तृन्त् (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• रक्षकः: protector
• रक्षकः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु) + अ (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक-निर्माण) → रक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्तृवाचक-ण्वुल्/अच्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अनुग्राह्यः: to be favored/one who should be shown grace
• अनुग्राह्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु + ग्रह् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त) → अनुग्राह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/future passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• भगवता: by the Lord
• भगवता: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• दक्षः: Dakṣa (name)/the capable one
• दक्षः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (also/even)

• दिवौकसः: the gods (heaven-dwellers)
• दिवौकसः: Karta (कर्ता/Co-subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव् + ओकस् (प्रातिपदिक) → दिवौकस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: 'divi ocaḥ' = whose dwelling is in heaven), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

A devotee/sage addressing the Supreme Lord (identified with Hari-Kurma, in Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Daksha
• Bhagavan
• Devas (Divaukas)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the singular Ishvara who performs cosmic functions—creation, governance, and protection—implying a highest Self whose sovereignty exceeds even the devas and Prajapatis.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes anugraha (divine grace) as essential; in Kurma Purana’s yoga-oriented theology, disciplined practice (yama-niyama, dhyana) is fulfilled by surrender to Ishvara who alone grants realization and protection.

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

By praising one Bhagavan as the single source of creation and grace, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian stance where ultimate Ishvara transcends names—read as Hari-Kurma while remaining compatible with Shaiva (Pashupati) theology.