Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 84

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

Devanagari script

एतावदुक्त्वा ब्रह्माणं सो ऽभिवन्द्य गुरुं हरः / सहैव मानसैः पुत्रैः क्षणादन्तरधीयत

Transliteration

etāvaduktvā brahmāṇaṃ so 'bhivandya guruṃ haraḥ / sahaiva mānasaiḥ putraiḥ kṣaṇādantaradhīyata

Translation

これだけを梵天（ブラフマー）に告げ終えると、ハラ（シヴァ）は師に礼拝し、刹那のうちに、意より生まれた子らとともに人々の視界から姿を消した。

Word by Word

• एतावत्: this much/so much
• एतावत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; pronominal adjective used adverbially with gerund

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त्वा (क्त्वान्त/अव्ययीभाव-भाव)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); having said

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā (as object)
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; pronoun

• अभिवन्द्य: having bowed to
• अभिवन्द्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + वन्द् (धातु) + ल्यप् (ल्यबन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); having saluted

• गुरुम्: the teacher
• गुरुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हरः: Hara (Śiva)
• हरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सह (with) governs तृतीया (instrumental)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• मानसैः: mind-born
• मानसैः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; adjective qualifying पुत्रैः

• पुत्रैः: with (his) sons
• पुत्रैः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• क्षणात्: in a moment/from a moment
• क्षणात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; used adverbially

• अन्तर्धीयत: disappeared
• अन्तर्धीयत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अन्तर्धा + धा (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; he disappeared/vanished

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing the event to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Hara (Shiva)
• Guru
• Manasa-putras (mind-born sons)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it emphasizes the transcendental mode of divine action: Śiva can appear, instruct, and then “withdraw from perception” (antaradhīyata), hinting at a reality that is not limited by gross visibility—aligned with Purāṇic teaching that the supreme principle is beyond sensory grasp.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No technique is taught explicitly in this verse, but the motif of “disappearing” after instruction aligns with yogic mastery (aiśvarya/siddhi) and inward withdrawal; in Kurma Purana’s broader spiritual frame, such powers are secondary to disciplined dharma and devotion to the guru and Īśvara.

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

While Viṣṇu is not named here, the verse supports the Purāṇa’s non-sectarian synthesis by portraying Śiva as operating within a sacred order of reverence (bowing to a guru), consistent with the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching that divine forms function harmoniously within one overarching Īśvara-tattva.