Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 141

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

यदुक्तं देवदेवेन विष्णुना कूर्मरूपिणा / पृष्टेन मुनिभिः पूर्वं शक्रेणामृतमन्थने

Transliteration

yaduktaṃ devadevena viṣṇunā kūrmarūpiṇā / pṛṣṭena munibhiḥ pūrvaṃ śakreṇāmṛtamanthane

Translation

Telle est la parole jadis prononcée par le Dieu des dieux—Viṣṇu sous la forme de Kūrma, la Tortue—lors du barattage de l’ambroisie, lorsqu’il fut interrogé par les sages et par Śakra (Indra).

Word by Word

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• उक्तम्: said/spoken
• उक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• देवदेवेन: by the God of gods
• देवदेवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय: देवः एव देवः (देवेषु देवः)

• विष्णुना: by Viṣṇu
• विष्णुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• कूर्मरूपिणा: in the form of a tortoise
• कूर्मरूपिणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कूर्म + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular); तृतीया-सम्बन्धे विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुष: कूर्मस्य रूपं यस्य (रूपिन्)

• पृष्टेन: when asked/being asked
• पृष्टेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पूर्वम्: formerly/previously
• पूर्वम्: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• शक्रेण: by Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• अमृतमन्थने: in the churning for nectar
• अमृतमन्थने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत + मन्थन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: अमृतस्य मन्थनम्

Speaker

Narrator (Purana voice, relaying the remembered discourse of Lord Kurma/Vishnu)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Kurma (Tortoise incarnation)
• Shakra (Indra)
• Sages (Munis)
• Amrita Manthana (Churning of the Ocean)

More Details (5 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames the authority of the teaching as originating from Vishnu as Lord Kurma, implying that the forthcoming doctrine is a revelation about the supreme principle spoken by the divine source.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse is a narrative bridge rather than a practice-instruction; it introduces (or authenticates) the Ishvara Gita discourse that elsewhere in this section is linked with Yoga-shastra and Pashupata-oriented discipline.

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

By presenting Vishnu (as Kurma) as the authoritative teacher within the Ishvara Gita stream—often read in the Kurma Purana as harmonizing Shaiva (Ishvara/Pashupati) and Vaishnava (Vishnu) perspectives—this verse supports a synthesis rather than rivalry.