Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Prākṛta Sṛṣṭi and Pralaya: From Pradhāna to Brahmāṇḍa; Trimūrti Samanvaya

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा नारायणो वाक्यमृषीणां कूर्मरूपधृक् / प्राह गम्भीरया वाचा भूतानां प्रभवाप्ययौ

Transliteration

śrutvā nārāyaṇo vākyamṛṣīṇāṃ kūrmarūpadhṛk / prāha gambhīrayā vācā bhūtānāṃ prabhavāpyayau

Translation

Ayant entendu les paroles des sages, Nārāyaṇa—revêtu de la forme de la Tortue—prononça d’une voix grave l’enseignement sur la naissance et la résorption de tous les êtres.

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; धातु: श्रु

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• ऋषीणाम्: of the sages
• ऋषीणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• कूर्मरूपधृक्: the bearer of the tortoise-form
• कूर्मरूपधृक्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर्म-रूप-धृक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कूर्मस्य रूपं धत्ते इति)

• प्राह: said, spoke
• प्राह: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह्/अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गम्भीरया: with a deep (voice)
• गम्भीरया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम्भीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण (वाचया सह)

• वाचा: with speech/voice
• वाचा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• भूतानाम्: of beings
• भूतानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• प्रभव: origin
• प्रभव: कर्म/विषय (Viṣaya/Object of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र-भू (धातु) → प्रभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• अप्ययौ: dissolution
• अप्ययौ: कर्म/विषय (Viṣaya/Object of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप-इ (धातु) → अप्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; प्रभवाप्ययौ = द्वन्द्वार्थ द्विवचन (origin and dissolution)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Narayana in Kurma form)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Kurma
• Rishis
• Bhutas (beings)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents Nārāyaṇa (Kurma) as the authoritative source who reveals how all beings arise and dissolve, implying a single supreme ground of manifestation and reabsorption behind changing phenomena.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This specific verse does not prescribe a practice directly; it sets the contemplative foundation for Yoga by framing reality as prabhava (emanation) and apyaya (reabsorption), a key cosmological insight later integrated with Pāśupata-oriented discipline in the Kurma Purana.

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

By centering the teaching voice in Nārāyaṇa as Kurma while addressing universal cosmology, it supports the Purana’s synthetic approach where sectarian boundaries soften—Vishnu’s discourse naturally harmonizes with themes later expressed in Shaiva-Pāśupata idiom.