Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37

Sapta-dvīpa Cosmography and the Vision of Śvetadvīpa–Vaikuṇṭha

Devanagari script

यजन्ति सततं देवं सर्वलोकैकसाक्षिणम् / व्रतोपवासैर्विविधैर्देवदेवं दिवाकरम्

Transliteration

yajanti satataṃ devaṃ sarvalokaikasākṣiṇam / vratopavāsairvividhairdevadevaṃ divākaram

Translation

Ils adorent sans cesse le Dieu, l’Unique Témoin de tous les mondes—Divākara, le Soleil, Dieu des dieux—par des vœux sacrés et des jeûnes de multiples sortes.

Word by Word

• यजन्ति: they worship/sacrifice to
• यजन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदी

• सततम्: always, continually
• सततम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् नपुंसक-द्वितीया/प्रथमा-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सर्वलोकैकसाक्षिणम्: the sole witness of all worlds
• सर्वलोकैकसाक्षिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + लोक + एक + साक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (देवम्)

• व्रतोपवासैः: with vows and fasts
• व्रतोपवासैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत + उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; साधन/करण

• विविधैः: various
• विविधैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (व्रतोपवासैः)

• देवदेवम्: the god of gods
• देवदेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (देवानां देवः)

• दिवाकरम्: the Sun (day-maker)
• दिवाकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवाकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सूर्य-पर्याय

Speaker

Narrator/Sage (Purāṇic discourse describing prescribed worship)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Divākara (Sun/Sūrya)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the deity “the single Witness of all worlds,” the verse emphasizes the sāksin principle—unchanging witnessing consciousness—through which all experiences are known.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights vrata (regulated observance) and upavāsa (fasting) as disciplines that purify the body-mind, support tapas, and steady devotion—foundational supports for yogic concentration and worship.

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

While explicitly praising Sūrya as “God of gods,” it reflects the Purāṇic integrative theology where distinct deities are approached as manifestations of the one supreme reality—compatible with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.