Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वोपमन्योस्तद् वाक्यं भगवान् केशिमर्दनः / व्याजहार महायोगी वचनं प्रणिपत्य तम्

Transliteration

śrutvopamanyostad vākyaṃ bhagavān keśimardanaḥ / vyājahāra mahāyogī vacanaṃ praṇipatya tam

Translation

Ayant entendu les paroles d’Upamanyu, le Seigneur bienheureux, le vainqueur de Keśin, le grand yogin, s’inclina devant lui puis répondit.

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable); पूर्वकाल क्रिया (having heard)

• उपमन्योः: of Upamanyu
• उपमन्योः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपमन्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण of वाक्यम्

• वाक्यम्: statement, words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• केशिमर्दनः: slayer of Keśin
• केशिमर्दनः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + मर्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); ‘केशिनः मर्दनः’ (slayer of Keśin), उपाधि

• व्याजहार: spoke/uttered
• व्याजहार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• महायोगी: the great yogin
• महायोगी: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); ‘महान् योगी’ (great yogin), समनाधिकरण with भगवान्

• वचनम्: speech, words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• प्रणिपत्य: having bowed down
• प्रणिपत्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-नि-पत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (gerund/absolutive) in -य (praṇipatya), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकाल क्रिया (having bowed)

• तम्: to him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of praṇipatya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator) describing Lord Vishnu’s response to Upamanyu

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Upamanyu
• Keshimardana (Vishnu/Krishna)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it presents the Supreme (Bhagavān) as “mahāyogī,” implying mastery of inner realization; the Atman-oriented path is approached through disciplined yoga and reverent receptivity to spiritual instruction.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights yogic discipline through conduct: humility, prostration, and attentive listening to a realized teacher—foundational attitudes that support higher practices (dhyāna, samādhi) emphasized in Kurma Purana’s yoga-oriented teachings.

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

By portraying Vishnu (Keśimardana) as a “mahāyogī” who bows to a sage associated with Shaiva currents, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where Vaishnava and Shaiva holiness mutually honor one another.