Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

Adhyāya 25 — Liṅga-māhātmya (The Chapter on the Liṅga): Hari’s Śiva-Worship and the Fiery Pillar Theophany

Devanagari script

काश्चिद् गायन्ति विविधां गीतिं गीतविशारदाः / संप्रेक्ष्य देवकीसूनुं सुन्दर्यः काममोहिताः

Transliteration

kāścid gāyanti vividhāṃ gītiṃ gītaviśāradāḥ / saṃprekṣya devakīsūnuṃ sundaryaḥ kāmamohitāḥ

Translation

Certaines jeunes filles d’une beauté exquise, expertes en chant, entonnèrent des mélodies variées; et, en contemplant le fils de Devakī, elles furent troublées par le désir.

Word by Word

• काश्चित्: some (women)
• काश्चित्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक (indefinite: 'some (women)')

• गायन्ति: sing
• गायन्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान/Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• विविधाम्: various, diverse
• विविधाम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गीतिम्)

• गीतम्: song
• गीतम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गीतविशारदाः: skilled in singing
• गीतविशारदाः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गीत + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (गीते विशारदाः = गीतकुशलाः)

• संप्रेक्ष्य: having looked at
• संप्रेक्ष्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + प्र + ईक्ष् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund): 'having looked at/after seeing'

• देवकीसूनुम्: Devakī’s son
• देवकीसूनुम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवकी + सूनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (देवक्याः सूनुः)

• सुन्दर्यः: beautiful women
• सुन्दर्यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुन्दरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• काममोहिताः: bewildered by desire
• काममोहिताः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम + मोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कामेन मोहिताः)

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (Vyāsa/Sūta-style narration describing events)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devakī
• Devakīsūnu (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it contrasts the mind’s attraction to form (sense-perception leading to kāma and moha) with the steadiness required to recognize the Self beyond sensory fascination.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implies the need for indriya-nigraha (sense-restraint) and citta-prasāda (clarity of mind): seeing a powerful object of beauty can trigger desire unless disciplined by yogic restraint and devotion.

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

It does not explicitly discuss Śiva–Viṣṇu unity; it focuses on the devotional-narrative portrayal of Viṣṇu (as Kṛṣṇa) and the psychological power of divine beauty to stir worldly desire.