Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

Svāyambhuva Lineage to Dakṣa; Pṛthu’s Devotion; Pāśupata Saṃnyāsa; Dakṣa–Satī Episode

Devanagari script

इहाशेषजगद्धाता पुरा नारायणः स्वयम् / आराधयन्महादेवं लोकानां हितकाम्यया

Transliteration

ihāśeṣajagaddhātā purā nārāyaṇaḥ svayam / ārādhayanmahādevaṃ lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā

Translation

ここにおいて、太古、全宇宙を支えるナーラーヤナ自らが、諸世界の安寧と利益を願い、マハーデーヴァ（大自在天）を礼拝した。

Word by Word

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• अशेष-जगत्-धाता: the creator of the entire world
• अशेष-जगत्-धाता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + dhātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-समासार्थः: अशेषस्य जगतः धाता (creator of the entire world)

• पुरा: formerly, in ancient times
• पुरा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Karta-nirdharana (कर्ता-निर्धारण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, आत्मवाचक (reflexive/emphatic particle)

• आराधयन्: worshipping
• आराधयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√rādh (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी; ‘worshipping’

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahādeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास: महान् देवः

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds/of people
• लोकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• हित-काम्यया: with the desire for (their) welfare
• हित-काम्यया: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक) + kāmyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: हितस्य काम्या (desire for welfare); हेतौ तृतीया (instrumental of motive)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the precedent of Nārāyaṇa’s Śiva-worship)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Mahadeva
• Shiva
• Vishnu

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying Nārāyaṇa as the cosmic sustainer who nevertheless worships Mahādeva, the verse implies a non-sectarian vision where the Supreme is approached through complementary divine forms—pointing toward one ultimate reality expressed as both Viṣṇu and Śiva.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds ārādhana (devotional propitiation) as a foundational discipline: focused worship, intention for lokahita (universal welfare), and reverence to Īśvara—elements that align with Purāṇic yoga as devotion-led concentration supporting higher realization.

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

It depicts harmony and theological unity: Viṣṇu (Nārāyaṇa) venerates Śiva (Mahādeva) for the good of all beings, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis rather than rivalry.