Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 156

Dakṣa’s Progeny, Nṛsiṃha–Varāha Avatāras, and Andhaka’s Defeat

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

भोक्ता पुमानप्रमेयः संहर्ता कालरूपधृक् / स्त्रष्टा पाता वासुदेवो विश्वात्मा विश्वतोमुखः

Transliteration

bhoktā pumānaprameyaḥ saṃhartā kālarūpadhṛk / straṣṭā pātā vāsudevo viśvātmā viśvatomukhaḥ

Translation

Il est le jouisseur (bhoktā), le Purusha incommensurable ; le dissolvant qui revêt la forme du Temps. Il est le créateur et le protecteur — Vāsudeva, l’Âme de l’univers, dont les visages se tournent vers toutes les directions.

Word by Word

• भोक्ता: enjoyer/experiencer
• भोक्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; √भुज् धातु-जन्य कृत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम (agent noun)

• पुमान्: the Person (male being)
• पुमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अप्रमेयः: immeasurable/incomprehensible
• अप्रमेयः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-प्रमेय (प्रातिपदिक; √मा धातु-जन्य कृत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• संहर्ता: destroyer/withdrawer
• संहर्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संहर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; √हृ धातु-जन्य कृत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम

• कालरूपधृक्: bearer of the form of Time
• कालरूपधृक्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + धृक्/धृ (√धृ धातु-जन्य कृत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कालस्य रूपं धत्ते इति)

• स्रष्टा: creator
• स्रष्टा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्रष्टृ (प्रातिपदिक; √सृज् धातु-जन्य कृत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम

• पाता: protector
• पाता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पातृ (प्रातिपदिक; √पा धातु-जन्य कृत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम

• वासुदेवः: Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संज्ञा (proper noun)

• विश्वात्मा: the Self of the universe
• विश्वात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विश्वस्य आत्मा)

• विश्वतोमुखः: having faces in all directions
• विश्वतोमुखः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्वतः (अव्यय) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (विश्वतः मुखं यस्य) विशेषण

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) presenting a stuti describing the Supreme Lord (Vāsudeva) in a Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis typical of the Kūrma Purāṇa

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Kala (Time)
• Vishvatman (Universal Self)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as viśvātmā—the inner Self of all beings—yet aprameya, beyond measurement and conceptual grasp, indicating a transcendent immanence central to Purāṇic non-dual theism.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

While not prescribing a technique directly, the verse supplies a meditation-support (ālambana) for Yoga: contemplating Īśvara as the cosmic functions—creation, protection, dissolution—and as Time itself, aligning the mind toward single-pointed devotion and insight.

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

By describing the one Lord as kāla-rūpa-dhṛk (Time, often emphasized in Śaiva theology) and as Vāsudeva (a Vaiṣṇava name), it frames divine sovereignty as a single reality expressed through shared attributes, supporting the Kūrma Purāṇa’s Shaiva–Vaishnava unity.