Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

Madhu–Kaiṭabha, Nārāyaṇa’s Yoga-Nidrā, Rudra’s Manifestation, and the Aṣṭamūrti–Trimūrti Teaching

Devanagari script

सर्वांस्तानश्रुजान् दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्मात्मानमनिन्दन / जहौ प्राणांश्च भगवान् क्रोधाविष्टः प्रजापतिः

Transliteration

sarvāṃstānaśrujān dṛṣṭvā brahmātmānamanindana / jahau prāṇāṃśca bhagavān krodhāviṣṭaḥ prajāpatiḥ

Translation

涙より生まれた者たちが皆泣くのを見、また世の無垢なる自己たる梵天を見て、福徳あるプラジャーパティ（ダクシャ）は怒りに覆われ、生命の息を捨てた。

Word by Word

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: कर्म (Object; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• तान्: them
• तान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-रूप

• अश्रुजान्: born of tears
• अश्रुजान्: विशेषण (Adjectival to तान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; जन् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (अश्रुभ्यः जाताः = born from tears)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• आत्मानम्: himself
• आत्मानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अनिन्दन: O blameless one
• अनिन्दन: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-निन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; नञ्-समास (निन्दन-रहित = blameless)

• जहौ: abandoned / gave up
• जहौ: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्राणान्: life-breaths
• प्राणान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: कर्ता (Karta; apposition to ब्रह्मा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• क्रोधाविष्टः: possessed by anger
• क्रोधाविष्टः: विशेषण (Adjectival to ब्रह्मा/भगवान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक) + आविष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (क्रोधेन आविष्टः)

• प्रजापतिः: Lord of creatures (Prajāpati)
• प्रजापतिः: कर्ता (Karta; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (प्रजानां पतिः)

Speaker

Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing the Dakṣa episode

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Prajāpati (Dakṣa)
• Prāṇa (life-breaths)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling Brahmā “brahmātmānam anindanam,” the verse hints that the cosmic order is grounded in a blameless Self-principle; yet Dakṣa’s anger shows how ego and krodha veil that higher vision.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No technique is directly taught in this line, but it implicitly contrasts uncontrolled krodha with the Kurma Purana’s yogic ideal—restraint (dama), inner composure, and devotion aligned with Pāśupata-oriented discipline.

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

Indirectly: the Dakṣa episode is a classic Purāṇic setting where sectarian pride collapses; the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching harmonizes divine powers, urging devotion and humility rather than rivalry.