Shloka 20

Commencement of the Upari-bhāga: The Sages Request Brahma-vidyā; Vyāsa Recalls the Badarikā Inquiry and Śiva–Viṣṇu Theophany

Devanagari script

संस्तूय विविधैः स्तोत्रैः सर्वे वेदसमुद्भवैः / प्रणेमुर्भक्तिसंयुक्ता योगिनो योगवित्तमम्

Transliteration

saṃstūya vividhaiḥ stotraiḥ sarve vedasamudbhavaiḥ / praṇemurbhaktisaṃyuktā yogino yogavittamam

Translation

Après l’avoir loué par maints hymnes issus des Veda, tous ces yogins, unis à la dévotion, se prosternèrent devant le plus éminent connaisseur du Yoga.

Word by Word

• संस्तूय: having praised
• संस्तूय: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + √स्तु (धातु) + ल्यप् (gerund)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्यय (gerund), 'having praised'

• विविधैः: with various
• विविधैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying स्तोत्रैः)

• स्तोत्रैः: hymns
• स्तोत्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all (of them)
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वेदसमुद्भवैः: born from the Vedas
• वेदसमुद्भवैः: Karana-anvaya (करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + समुद्भव (सम् + उद् + √भू धातु, क्त/अच्-प्रत्ययान्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying स्तोत्रैः): 'arisen from the Vedas'

• प्रणेमुः: they bowed down
• प्रणेमुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √नम् (धातु) लिट्-लकार
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• भक्तिसंयुक्ताः: endowed with devotion
• भक्तिसंयुक्ताः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति + संयुक्त (सम् + √युज् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण—'endowed with devotion'

• योगिनः: the yogins
• योगिनः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to सर्वे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• योगवित्तमम्: the best knower of yoga
• योगवित्तमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of प्रणेमुः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग + वित्तम (प्रातिपदिक; 'वित्तम' = best knower)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—'योगस्य वित्तमः' (best knower of yoga)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) describing the sages/yogins’ act of praise and prostration

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Yogins
• Supreme Knower of Yoga (Ishvara/Lord Kurma implied)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the “foremost knower of Yoga,” implying an Ishvara who is the source and perfection of yogic knowledge—worthy of Vedic praise and devotional surrender.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights a classical Kurma Purana emphasis: Yoga is joined with bhakti—yogins approach the highest yogic authority through Veda-grounded praise (stotra) and reverential prostration (praṇāma), aligning discipline with devotion.

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

By focusing on the single “foremost knower of Yoga” praised through Vedic hymns, it supports the Purana’s non-sectarian stance: the supreme yogic Ishvara can be approached in a unifying way that later accommodates Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis.