Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Svāyambhuva Lineage to Dakṣa; Pṛthu’s Devotion; Pāśupata Saṃnyāsa; Dakṣa–Satī Episode

Devanagari script

प्रवक्ता सर्वशास्त्राणां धर्मज्ञो गुणवत्सलः / तं मां नित्त मुनिश्रेष्ठाः पूर्वोद्भूतं सनातनम्

Transliteration

pravaktā sarvaśāstrāṇāṃ dharmajño guṇavatsalaḥ / taṃ māṃ nitta muniśreṣṭhāḥ pūrvodbhūtaṃ sanātanam

Translation

હું સર્વ શાસ્ત્રોનો પ્રવક્તા, ધર્મનો જાણકાર અને ગુણપ્રિય છું. હે મુનિશ્રેષ્ઠો, મને સદા સૃષ્ટિપૂર્વે રહેલા આદ્ય સનાતન રૂપે જાણો।

Word by Word

• pravaktā: speaker, expounder
• pravaktā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pra-√vac (धातु) → pravaktṛ (प्रातिपदिक/agent noun)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग

• sarva-śāstrāṇām: of all scriptures
• sarva-śāstrāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + śāstra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; कर्मधारयः (‘all’ qualifying ‘śāstras’)

• dharma-jñaḥ: knower of dharma
• dharma-jñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (धर्मं जानाति)

• guṇa-vatsalaḥ: fond of virtues, loving the good
• guṇa-vatsalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुषः (गुणेषु वत्सलः)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kāla (काल/Time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nityam (अव्यय)
• Form: नित्यत्ववाचक-अव्यय (adverb: always)

• muni-śreṣṭhāḥ: the best sages
• muni-śreṣṭhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुषः (‘best among sages’)

• pūrva-udbhūtam: previously arisen, primordial
• pūrva-udbhūtam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + udbhūta (कृदन्त/ppp from ud-√bhū)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुषः; PPP ‘arisen’ used adjectivally (qualifying mām)

• sanātanam: eternal
• sanātanam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanātana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषण (qualifying mām)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu as the primordial teacher)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• Dharma
• Shastra
• Sages (Munis)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as nitya (ever-present) and sanātana (eternal), existing before all manifestation—an Ishvara who is the primordial ground of dharma and scriptural wisdom.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes nitya-smaraṇa—constant remembrance and recognition of the eternal Lord as the true teacher of śāstra; this supports bhakti-yoga and dhyāna grounded in dharma.

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

By defining the Supreme as the single eternal source of dharma and śāstra, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where one Ishvara can be praised through both Shaiva and Vaishnava theological language.