Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

Ikṣvāku-vaṃśa (Genealogy) culminating in Rāma; Setu-liṅga Māhātmya; Continuation through Kuśa and Lava

Devanagari script

रामो ऽपि पालयामास राज्यं धर्मपरायणः / अभिषिक्तो महातेजा भरतेन महाबलः

Transliteration

rāmo 'pi pālayāmāsa rājyaṃ dharmaparāyaṇaḥ / abhiṣikto mahātejā bharatena mahābalaḥ

Translation

Rāma aussi gouverna le royaume, tout entier voué au dharma ; et ce héros puissant, rayonnant d’une grande splendeur, fut consacré roi par Bharata, l’homme à la force immense.

Word by Word

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• पालयामास: ruled / protected
• पालयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; ‘आमास’ परिप्रयोग (periphrastic perfect)

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• धर्मपरायणः: devoted to dharma
• धर्मपरायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) रामस्य

• अभिषिक्तः: anointed
• अभिषिक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + सिच् (धातु) → अभिषिक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; रामस्य विशेषण

• महातेजाः: of great splendor
• महातेजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘तेजस्’ अकारान्त-प्राय रूप (mahātejāḥ)

• भरतेन: by Bharata
• भरतेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• महाबलः: of great strength
• महाबलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; रामस्य विशेषण

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (sūta-style narration within the Kurma Purana’s discourse framework)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Bharata
• Dharma
• Rajya (Kingship)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it frames dharma as the governing principle of life: a ruler aligned with dharma reflects inner self-mastery—an ethical groundwork that the Kurma Purana later connects to realization-oriented disciplines.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No technique is named, but the verse emphasizes dharma-niṣṭhā (steadfastness in righteousness), which functions as a preparatory discipline (yama-like ethical restraint) supporting later teachings associated with Pāśupata-oriented practice and Ishvara-bhakti.

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

By presenting Rāma (a Viṣṇu-linked exemplar) as the model of dharma-rājya, it supports the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis: righteous action and devotion are shared foundations across Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva paths, later articulated as harmony rather than rivalry.