Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 39

Virocana–Bali, Aditi’s Tapas, and the Vāmana–Trivikrama Episode

Devanagari script

इत्थं विचिन्त्य गोविन्दं भक्तिनम्रेण चेतसा / तमेव गच्छ शरणं ततो यास्यसि निर्वृतिम्

Transliteration

itthaṃ vicintya govindaṃ bhaktinamreṇa cetasā / tameva gaccha śaraṇaṃ tato yāsyasi nirvṛtim

Translation

Ainsi, après avoir contemplé Govinda d’un esprit incliné par la bhakti, va vers Lui seul comme refuge; alors tu atteindras la paix et l’ultime contentement.

Word by Word

• इत्थम्: thus, in this manner
• इत्थम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ittham (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• विचिन्त्य: having reflected
• विचिन्त्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal), ‘having reflected/considered’

• गोविन्दम्: Govinda (Viṣṇu)
• गोविन्दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• भक्ति-नम्रेण: with a devotion-humbled
• भक्ति-नम्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + नम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa: भक्ति-नम्र = ‘devotion-humble’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग? (agrees with चेतसा: नपुंसकलिङ्ग), तृतीया विभक्ति (instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• चेतसा: with (his) mind
• चेतसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• एव: indeed, alone
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), अवधारण (emphasis)

• गच्छ: go
• गच्छ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• शरणम्: as refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); गच्छ इत्यस्य कर्मपद (object-complement)

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Apādāna/Time (अपादान/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अपादान/हेतु-अर्थे (from that/thereafter)

• यास्यसि: you will attain/go
• यास्यसि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (simple future), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• निर्वृतिम्: cessation, peace, liberation
• निर्वृतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्वृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Narrator/Teacher voice within the Purva-bhaga (instructional passage urging śaraṇāgati to Govinda)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Govinda
• Vishnu

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme (Govinda) as the single, sufficient refuge; peace (nirvṛti) arises when the mind turns from multiplicity and rests in the one highest Lord—implying that ultimate fulfillment is found in the supreme reality rather than external supports.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes vicāra-like contemplation (vicintya) joined with bhakti that makes the mind humble (bhakti-namra cetas). This is a practical sādhanā: inner reflection, devotion, and śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) culminating in tranquility (nirvṛti).

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

While naming Govinda (Vishnu), the teaching aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology: liberation-oriented refuge is taken in the one supreme Lord, a stance compatible with Shaiva-Vaishnava unity where sectarian difference is secondary to surrender and realization.