Shloka 26

Manvantaras, Indras, Saptarṣis, and the Seven Sustaining Manifestations; Vyāsa as Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

विष्णुशक्तिरनौपम्या सत्त्वोद्रिक्ता स्थिता स्थितौ / तदंशभूता राजानः सर्वे च त्रिदिवौकसः

Transliteration

viṣṇuśaktiranaupamyā sattvodriktā sthitā sthitau / tadaṃśabhūtā rājānaḥ sarve ca tridivaukasaḥ

Translation

La Śakti incomparable de Viṣṇu—surabondante de sattva—demeure dans l’état de préservation. D’une part de cette Śakti naissent toutes les puissances souveraines, y compris tous les habitants des trois cieux, les dieux.

Word by Word

• विष्णुशक्तिः: the power of Viṣṇu
• विष्णुशक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु-शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः शक्तिः)

• अनौपम्या: incomparable
• अनौपम्या: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनौपम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (विष्णुशक्तेः)

• सत्त्वोद्रिक्ता: abounding in sattva
• सत्त्वोद्रिक्ता: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्व-उद्रिक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सत्त्वेन उद्रिक्ता/उद्रिक्तत्वयुक्ता); विशेषणम्

• स्थिता: abiding/established
• स्थिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘स्थित’ = ‘abiding/remaining’

• स्थितौ: in the state of stability
• स्थितौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरणम्

• तत्: of that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘तद्’ = ‘of that’ (सम्बन्ध)

• अंशभूता: being portions (of it)
• अंशभूता: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अंश-भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुवचन-प्रथमा? (see agreement); मूलरूपः ‘अंशभूत’ = ‘having become a portion’; यहाँ ‘राजानः/त्रिदिवौकसः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (अंशभूताः) अपेक्षितम्—पाठे ‘अंशभूता’ छन्दसि/लिप्यन्तरेण

• राजानः: kings
• राजानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (राजानः/त्रिदिवौकसः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• त्रिदिवौकसः: the dwellers of heaven (gods)
• त्रिदिवौकसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदिव-ओकस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (त्रिदिवस्य ओकसः = स्वर्गनिवासिनः)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the Purāṇic teaching to the assembled sages (Naimiṣāraṇya frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shakti
• Tridivaukasaḥ (Devas)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to a single supreme source whose Śakti governs “sthiti” (cosmic sustenance); the devas and rulers are not ultimate, but partial manifestations dependent on that higher reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

While not giving a technique directly, it emphasizes sattva as the operative quality of sustaining divine power—implying the Yogic need for sattva-śuddhi (purification through restraint, devotion, and contemplative discipline) central to Kurma Purana’s broader Yoga-dharma teachings.

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

By grounding cosmic order in a supreme Śakti and a sustaining Lord, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology: sectarian gods and cosmic rulers function as empowered portions, while the highest divinity remains one, approached through complementary Shaiva-Vaishnava frameworks.