Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Virocana–Bali, Aditi’s Tapas, and the Vāmana–Trivikrama Episode

Devanagari script

कृत्वा तेन महद् युद्धं शक्रः सर्वामरैर्वृतः / जगाम निर्जितो विष्णुं देवं शरणमच्युतम्

Transliteration

kṛtvā tena mahad yuddhaṃ śakraḥ sarvāmarairvṛtaḥ / jagāma nirjito viṣṇuṃ devaṃ śaraṇamacyutam

Translation

Setelah berperang besar dengannya, Śakra (Indra), dikelilingi semua dewa, pergi dalam keadaan kalah untuk berlindung pada Viṣṇu, Sang Acyuta, Tuhan Yang Ilahi.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having done / having waged
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वान्त/त्वान्त), indeclinable verbal form

• तेन: with him
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• महत्: great
• महत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; irregular stem महत्; qualifies युद्धम्

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• शक्रः: Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; Indra

• सर्वामरैः: by/with all the immortals (gods)
• सर्वामरैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-अमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; कर्मधारयः (सर्वे अमराः)

• वृतः: surrounded
• वृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with शक्रः

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• निर्जितः: defeated
• निर्जितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + जि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with शक्रः

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; in apposition to विष्णुम्

• शरणम्: as refuge
• शरणम्: Gati-karma (गतिकर्म/goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; used predicatively with गम् (to go for refuge)

• अच्युतम्: the infallible
• अच्युतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies विष्णुम्

Speaker

Suta (narrator) recounting events to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Shakra (Indra)
• Vishnu
• Acyuta
• Devas (Amaras)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By showing even Indra turning for shelter to Acyuta (the unfailing Lord), the verse implies a hierarchy where the highest refuge is the imperishable divine reality—beyond the limited, victory-and-defeat bound status of celestial beings.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights śaraṇāgati (surrender) and humility—inner disciplines aligned with Purāṇic yoga ethics—where ego is relinquished and the mind turns toward the Lord as the stable support when worldly power proves insufficient.

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

While Viṣṇu is explicitly named as the refuge here, the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis frames such refuge as devotion to the one Supreme Lord manifesting through multiple divine forms, emphasizing unity of divine sovereignty rather than sectarian opposition.