Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45

Nine Creations (Sarga), Guṇa-Streams of Beings, and Brahmā’s Progeny in Cyclic Time

Devanagari script

तस्मादहर्देवतानां रात्रिः स्याद् देवविद्विषाम् / तयोर्मध्ये पितॄणां तु मूर्तिः सन्ध्या गरीयसी

Transliteration

tasmādahardevatānāṃ rātriḥ syād devavidviṣām / tayormadhye pitṝṇāṃ tu mūrtiḥ sandhyā garīyasī

Translation

Ainsi, ce qui est ‘jour’ pour les dieux devient ‘nuit’ pour ceux qui sont hostiles aux dieux ; et entre les deux, la forme la plus vénérable appartenant aux Pitṛs est Sandhyā, la jonction sacrée du crépuscule.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: हेतु/अपादान (Cause/Source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; पञ्चमी-एकवचनार्थे (ablatival: 'therefore/from that')

• अहः: day
• अहः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nominative, Singular)

• देवतानाम्: of the deities
• देवतानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Feminine, Genitive, Plural)

• रात्रिः: night
• रात्रिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular)

• स्यात्: would be/should be
• स्यात्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् (3rd person singular)

• देवविद्विषाम्: of the enemies of the gods
• देवविद्विषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-विद्विष् (प्रातिपदिक; देव + विद्विष्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Plural)

• तयोः: of the two (day and night)
• तयोः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Genitive, Dual); सर्वनाम

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Locative, Singular)

• पितॄणाम्: of the Pitṛs
• पितॄणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Plural)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (contrastive particle)

• मूर्तिः: form/manifestation
• मूर्तिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular)

• सन्ध्या: twilight
• सन्ध्या: कर्ता (Karta/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular); समानााधिकरण (apposition with मूर्तिः)

• गरीयसी: more weighty/greater
• गरीयसी: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गरियस् (प्रातिपदिक; तुलनात्मक-विशेषण)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular); तुलनात्मक (comparative)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating to the sages), within the Kurma Purana’s teaching on kāla (cosmic time) and ritual junctions (sandhyā)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devatāḥ (gods)
• Devavidviṣaḥ (opponents of the gods)
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Sandhyā (twilight)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by emphasizing Sandhyā as a liminal ‘junction’ (saṃdhi) that is revered, the verse points to a dharmic discipline where one turns inward at transitions—supporting steadiness of awareness that later Shaiva-Vaishnava teachings associate with realizing the Self beyond changing time.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights Sandhyā as supremely important—supporting sandhyā-vandana (twilight worship), japa, and disciplined daily observances. In the Kurma Purana’s broader spiritual frame, such regular junction-practices stabilize the mind (citta) and purify karma, forming a foundation compatible with Pashupata-oriented restraint and devotion.

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

Not explicitly by name here; the synthesis appears in the shared dharmic emphasis: reverence for Sandhyā and Pitṛs is upheld as a universal discipline across sectarian lines, aligning with the Kurma Purana’s wider tendency to harmonize Vaiṣṇava devotion with Śaiva-Pāśupata ritual and yogic discipline.