Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

Durjaya, Urvaśī, and the Expiation at Vārāṇasī

Genealogy and Sin-Removal through Viśveśvara

Devanagari script

जगाम स्वपुरीं शुभ्रां पालयामास मेदिनीम् / याजयामास तं कण्वो याचितो घृणया मुनिः

Transliteration

jagāma svapurīṃ śubhrāṃ pālayāmāsa medinīm / yājayāmāsa taṃ kaṇvo yācito ghṛṇayā muniḥ

Translation

તે પોતાની તેજસ્વી રાજધાનીમાં પાછો ગયો અને ધરતીનું પાલન કરવા લાગ્યો. પછી વિનંતી થતાં કરુણાથી પ્રેરિત મুনি કણ્વે તેના માટે પુરોહિતરૂપે યજ્ઞાદિ કર્મો કરાવ્યાં.

Word by Word

• jagāma: went
• jagāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• sva-purīm: to his own city
• sva-purīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘one’s own city’

• śubhrām: bright/auspicious
• śubhrām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with purīm

• pālayāmāsa: ruled/protected
• pālayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pāl (धातु)
• Form: Causative stem (णिच्) in Perfect periphrastic (लिट्-परस्मैपद), 3rd Person, Singular; ‘caused to be protected/ruled’ → ‘ruled’

• medinīm: the earth
• medinīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: medinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• yājayāmāsa: made (him) perform sacrifices
• yājayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yaj (धातु)
• Form: Causative (णिच्) periphrastic Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular; ‘caused (him) to perform sacrifice’

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• kaṇvaḥ: Kaṇva
• kaṇvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṇva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• yācitaḥ: having been requested
• yācitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yācita (प्रातिपदिक; √yāc, past passive participle)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; PPP ‘requested/entreated’

• ghṛṇayā: by compassion
• ghṛṇayā: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghṛṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; cause/instrument ‘out of compassion’

• muniḥ: sage
• muniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; apposition to kaṇvaḥ

Speaker

Suta (narrator) recounting the episode within the Purva-bhaga narrative frame

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Kanva
• the King (unnamed in this verse)
• svapurī (royal capital)
• medinī (earth)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Directly, it does not define Ātman; it emphasizes dharmic order—righteous governance and Vedic sacrifice—through which inner purity and spiritual fitness for higher knowledge (including Ātma-jñāna taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana) are cultivated.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yoga technique is taught in this verse; instead it highlights karma-yoga in the Purāṇic sense—duty (ruling/protecting) and yajña performed under a qualified sage—seen as a purifying discipline aligned with varṇāśrama-dharma.

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

It does not mention Śiva or Viṣṇu explicitly; the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis indirectly by portraying Vedic duty and compassionate priestly guidance as shared foundations for later Śaiva-Vaiṣṇava teachings in the text.