Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

Sūrya-vaṃśa Genealogy and the Supremacy of Tapas: Gāyatrī-Japa, Rudra-Darśana, and Śatarudrīya Upadeśa

Devanagari script

राजोवाच जपेयं देवदेवेश गायत्रीं वेदमातरम् / भूयो वर्षशतं साग्रं तावदायुर्भवेन्मम

Transliteration

rājovāca japeyaṃ devadeveśa gāyatrīṃ vedamātaram / bhūyo varṣaśataṃ sāgraṃ tāvadāyurbhavenmama

Translation

Le roi dit : «Ô Seigneur des dieux, si je répète en japa la Gāyatrī — Mère des Veda —, ma durée de vie s’accroîtra-t-elle jusqu’à cent ans révolus, et au-delà ?»

Word by Word

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन (the king)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच्/धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; √वच् (to speak)

• japeyam: may I recite
• japeyam: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jap (जप्/धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; √जप् (to mutter/recite)

• deva-deva-īśa: O Lord of gods
• deva-deva-īśa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; देवदेवेश (O Lord of gods)

• gāyatrīm: Gāyatrī (mantra/metre)
• gāyatrīm: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāyatrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन (Gāyatrī)

• veda-mātaram: mother of the Vedas
• veda-mātaram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; वेदमातर् (mother of the Vedas)

• bhūyaḥ: again, further
• bhūyaḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Extent)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: again/more)

• varṣa-śatam: a hundred years
• varṣa-śatam: Karma (कर्म/Object/Measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (a hundred years)

• sa-agram: with an additional (portion)
• sa-agram: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (with an additional part; 'with extra')

• tāvat: so long, that much
• tāvat: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Extent)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाणवाचक (adverb: so much/that long)

• āyuḥ: lifespan
• āyuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन (lifespan)

• bhavet: may it be
• bhavet: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू/धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; √भू (to be/become)

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (of me/my)

Speaker

The King (rājā)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Gayatri
• Veda (as Vedamata)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly define Ātman; it frames a dharmic question about mantra-japa (Gāyatrī) as a means to refine life and merit, which in Purāṇic Yoga serves as a preparatory discipline for Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Mantra-yoga through japa of the Gāyatrī is highlighted—disciplined repetition aligned with Vedic dharma, typically supported by purity, regulated conduct, and steadiness of mind.

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

It does not explicitly mention Śiva–Viṣṇu unity; however, addressing the supreme “Lord of the gods” while praising Gāyatrī as Vedamātā reflects the Kurma Purāṇa’s broader synthesis where Vedic mantra-dharma is honored across sectarian lines.