Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

Kali-yuga Doṣas, the Supremacy of Rudra as Refuge, and the Closure of the Manvantara Teaching

Devanagari script

करिष्यत्यवताराणि शङ्करो नीललोहितः / श्रौतस्मार्तप्रतिष्ठार्थं भक्तानां हितकाम्यया

Transliteration

kariṣyatyavatārāṇi śaṅkaro nīlalohitaḥ / śrautasmārtapratiṣṭhārthaṃ bhaktānāṃ hitakāmyayā

Translation

श्रौत और स्मार्त परम्पराओं की प्रतिष्ठा के लिए, भक्तों के हित की कामना से, नीललोहित शंकर अवतार धारण करेंगे।

Word by Word

• करिष्यति: will do / will make
• करिष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• अवताराणि: incarnations/descents
• अवताराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• शङ्करः: Śaṅkara
• शङ्करः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• नील-लोहितः: blue-and-red (epithet)
• नील-लोहितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + लोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (नीलश्च लोहितश्च) used adjectivally

• श्रौत-स्मार्त-प्रतिष्ठा-अर्थम्: for establishing the Śrauta and Smārta (traditions)
• श्रौत-स्मार्त-प्रतिष्ठा-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रौत (प्रातिपदिक) + स्मार्त (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रतिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक (अर्थम् = for the sake of); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः

• भक्तानाम्: of devotees
• भक्तानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √भज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि/कृत (PPP) used as noun ‘devotees’

• हित-काम्यया: with the wish for (their) welfare
• हित-काम्यया: Hetu (हेतु/cause-motive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक) + काम्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √कम् + यत्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (हितं काम्यते यया); भाव/हेतु-निर्देश (by/with the desire for welfare)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu), teaching the sages (context of Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Nilalohita
• Shruta (Śrauta)
• Smarta (Smārta)
• Bhaktas (devotees)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting Śaṅkara’s purposeful descents for dharma and devotee-welfare, the verse implies a sovereign Lord who operates through manifestation while remaining transcendent—an Ishvara-centered view compatible with non-dual devotion in the Kūrma Purāṇa.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is named; the verse emphasizes dharma-stability (Śrauta–Smārta order) as the supportive ground for sādhana—ritual discipline, ethical conduct, and devotion that traditionally frame Pāśupata-oriented worship and yogic practice.

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

With Kūrma (Viṣṇu) describing Śaṅkara’s salvific incarnations, the text frames Śiva’s activity as divinely coordinated for cosmic order and devotee-good—an explicit Shaiva–Vaishnava harmony rather than sectarian rivalry.