Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

श्रद्दधानाय शान्ताय धार्मिकाय द्विजातये / इमां कथामनुब्रूयात् साक्षान्नारायणेरिताम्

Transliteration

śraddadhānāya śāntāya dhārmikāya dvijātaye / imāṃ kathāmanubrūyāt sākṣānnārāyaṇeritām

Translation

この聖なる物語は、信心に満ち、心静かで、ダルマに確立した二度生まれの者に語り聞かせるべきである。なぜなら、これはナーラーヤナご自身が直に宣説されたものだからである。

Word by Word

• श्रद्दधानाय: to the faithful one
• श्रद्दधानाय: सम्प्रदान (दातृ/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रद्दधान (कृदन्त; √धा धातु, शतृ-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः (4th/Dative), एकवचनम्; वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्तः विशेषणम् (present active participle used adjectivally)

• शान्ताय: to the peaceful one
• शान्ताय: सम्प्रदान (Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (कृदन्त; √शम् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (past passive participle) विशेषणम्

• धार्मिकाय: to the righteous one
• धार्मिकाय: सम्प्रदान (Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• द्विजातये: to a twice-born (Brahmin etc.)
• द्विजातये: सम्प्रदान (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचनम्; समासः—द्वि + जाति (द्विजाति = twice-born)

• इमाम्: this
• इमाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• कथाम्: story, discourse
• कथाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचनम्

• अनुब्रूयात्: should narrate/recite
• अनुब्रूयात्: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• साक्षात्: directly, in person
• साक्षात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

• नारायण: by Nārāyaṇa
• नारायण: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचनम् (नारायणेन) — सन्ध्यन्तरगत-रूपम्

• ईरिताम्: uttered/propounded
• ईरिताम्: कर्म (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईरित (कृदन्त; √ईर्/ईरय् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः विशेषणम्, ‘कथा’ इति विशेष्यस्य

Speaker

Sūta (traditional Purāṇic narrator) conveying the rule of transmission for Nārāyaṇa’s discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narayana

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By stating that the teaching is “directly proclaimed by Nārāyaṇa,” the verse grounds the doctrine in the Supreme Lord as the ultimate authority—implying that true knowledge of Self and Reality is to be received as revealed instruction, not mere speculation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse does not list techniques, but it specifies inner qualifications—faith (śraddhā) and tranquility (śānti)—which are core prerequisites for Yoga and for assimilating higher instruction in the Kurma Purana’s spiritual discipline.

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

While Śiva is not named here, the verse frames the teaching as Nārāyaṇa’s direct revelation—consistent with the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis where authoritative instruction can affirm harmony between Vaiṣṇava revelation and Śaiva-yogic practice.