Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 165

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

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा भगवतो वाक्यं देव्यः सर्वगणेश्वराः / नेमुर्नारायणं देवं देवीं च हिमशैलजाम्

Transliteration

śrutvā bhagavato vākyaṃ devyaḥ sarvagaṇeśvarāḥ / nemurnārāyaṇaṃ devaṃ devīṃ ca himaśailajām

Translation

Ayant entendu les paroles du Bienheureux, les déesses et tous les chefs des cohortes divines s’inclinèrent en hommage devant le dieu Nārāyaṇa, ainsi que devant la Déesse née de la montagne neigeuse, l’Himālaya.

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; ‘having heard’

• भगवतः: of the Blessed Lord
• भगवतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: speech; words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• देव्यः: the goddesses
• देव्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्व: all
• सर्व: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपदम्; ‘गणेश्वराः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• गण: hosts; groups
• गण: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपदम्; ‘troops/hosts’

• ईश्वराः: lords
• ईश्वराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘सर्वगणेश्वराः’ = सर्वेषां गणानां ईश्वराः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः)

• नेमुः: bowed down
• नेमुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्; ‘they bowed’

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नारायणम् इत्यस्य समानाधिकरणम्

• देवीम्: the Goddess
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• हिम: snow
• हिम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपदम्; ‘snow’

• शैल: mountain
• शैल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपदम्; ‘mountain’

• जाम्: born of the हिमशैल (Himālaya)
• जाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जा (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; जन् (धातु) + ड (क) → जा/ज)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘हिमशैलजाम्’ = हिमशैलात् जाता (ablative-tatpurusha sense)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing the response of the assembled deities

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān
• Nārāyaṇa
• Devī (Himaśailajā / Pārvatī)
• Devyaḥ (goddesses)
• Gaṇeśvarāḥ (chiefs of gaṇas)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By showing all divine beings offering obeisance to Nārāyaṇa along with Devī, the verse implies a single supreme divine reality honored through complementary forms—suggesting an underlying unity beyond sectarian distinction.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights bhakti-yoga expressed as namaskāra (reverential prostration) after śravaṇa (hearing sacred instruction). In Purāṇic yoga-dharma, attentive hearing and humble surrender are practical limbs that steady the mind for higher contemplation.

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

By pairing homage to Nārāyaṇa with homage to Himaśailajā (Pārvatī, central to Śaiva tradition), it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: devotion can honor Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva-Śākta manifestations without contradiction, pointing to a unified Īśvara-tattva.