Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

Brahmā’s Lotus-Birth, the Sealing of the Cosmic Womb, and the Epiphany of Parameśvara

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

मा मैवं वद कल्याण परिवादं महात्मनः / न मे ऽस्त्यविदितं ब्रह्मन् नान्यथाहं वदामिते

Transliteration

mā maivaṃ vada kalyāṇa parivādaṃ mahātmanaḥ / na me 'styaviditaṃ brahman nānyathāhaṃ vadāmite

Translation

Ô noble, ne parle pas ainsi; ne profère pas de médisance contre un être à la grande âme. Ô brahmane, rien ne m’est inconnu, et je ne te parle qu’en vérité.

Word by Word

• मा: do not
• मा: निषेध (Prohibition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (prohibitive particle)

• मा: do not
• मा: निषेध (Prohibition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय; ‘मैवम्’ इत्यत्र सन्धिविच्छेदः

• एवम्: thus, in this way
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• वद: say
• वद: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• कल्याण: O auspicious one / O good one
• कल्याण: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्याण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; संबोधनपदम्

• परिवादम्: slander, reproach
• परिवादम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled one
• महात्मनः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• मे: of me
• मे: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी, एकवचन (enclitic ‘मे’); अत्र षष्ठी (genitive) ‘of me/to me’

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अविदितम्: unknown
• अविदितम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-विदित (विद् धातु से क्त)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle used adjectivally); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘(किञ्चित्) अविदितम्’

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman
• ब्रह्मन्: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वदामि: speak
• वदामि: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• इते: thus (quoting)
• इते: वाक्यसमाप्ति/उक्तिसूचक (Quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle); पदान्ते ‘इति’ → ‘इते’ (छान्दस/पाठभेद)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu), speaking authoritatively as the omniscient divine teacher

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Brahman
• Mahatma

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By declaring that nothing is unknown to him and that he speaks only truth, the speaker signals an Ishvara-like standpoint—omniscience and unwavering satya—qualities associated with the supreme guiding consciousness that illumines all.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes foundational yama-like disciplines—truthfulness and restraint of speech—seen as prerequisites for higher Yoga (including Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā), because a mind free from malice and slander becomes fit for mantra, dhyāna, and devotion.

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

While not naming Shiva directly, it reflects the Purana’s synthesis: the supreme teacher speaks with the authority of Ishvara, a role the text often frames in a Shaiva-Vaishnava unity where the highest truth is one and is expressed through different divine forms.