Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Cosmic Realms Above Dhruva, the Pātālas Below, and the Foundation of Pralaya

Ananta–Kāla

Devanagari script

तत्र ते यान्ति नियता द्विजा वै ब्रह्मचारिणः / मदादेवपराः शान्तास्तापसा ब्रह्मवादिनः

Transliteration

tatra te yānti niyatā dvijā vai brahmacāriṇaḥ / madādevaparāḥ śāntāstāpasā brahmavādinaḥ

Translation

Di sana para dwija brahmacārin yang teguh dalam disiplin melangkah—para pertapa yang damai, berserah pada Mahādeva, dan pewarta Brahman.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb: there)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सामान्य), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Pronoun nominative plural

• यान्ति: go
• यान्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Present indicative 3rd pl.

• नियताः: disciplined
• नियताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural; ‘disciplined/regulated’

• द्विजाः: twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक निपात (indeed)

• ब्रह्मचारिणः: celibate students
• ब्रह्मचारिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• मदादेवपराः: devoted to Madādeva
• मदादेवपराः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मदा + देव + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural; तत्पुरुष: (मदा-देव)-पर = devoted to Madādeva

• शान्ताः: peaceful
• शान्ताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• तापसाः: ascetics
• तापसाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तापस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• ब्रह्मवादिनः: expounders of Brahman/Veda
• ब्रह्मवादिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मवादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting the Purāṇic discourse on tīrthas and ascetic discipline within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Mahadeva
• Brahman
• Dvija
• Brahmacarya

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the ascetics “brahmavādins,” the verse frames their goal as Brahman-realization; devotion to the Lord (here named Mahādeva) is presented as harmonious with the pursuit of the supreme, non-sectarian Reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes foundational yogic ethics: niyama/discipline (niyatāḥ), brahmacarya (celibate restraint), śānti (inner tranquility), and tapas (austerity)—the preparatory limbs that support deeper meditation and liberation-oriented practice.

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

The line “devoted to me as Mahādeva” reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology, where the Supreme is praised through Shaiva language without denying the Vishnu-centric frame—supporting a non-dual, sect-transcending approach.