Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37

Dakṣa-yajña-bhaṅgaḥ — Dadhīci’s Teaching and the Destruction of Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

एवं विज्ञापितो देव्या देवो देववरः प्रभुः / ससर्ज सहसा रुद्रं दक्षयज्ञजिघांसया

Transliteration

evaṃ vijñāpito devyā devo devavaraḥ prabhuḥ / sasarja sahasā rudraṃ dakṣayajñajighāṃsayā

Translation

女神にこのように願われると、神々の中の最勝なる主は、ダクシャの祭祀を滅ぼさんとして、ただちにルドラを顕現させた。

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• विज्ञापितः: having been informed
• विज्ञापितः: Karta (कर्ता; विशेष्य-देवः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-jñap (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having been informed/requested’

• देव्या: by the Goddess
• देव्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• देवः: the god (Śiva)
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• देववरः: best of the gods
• देववरः: Apposition (समानााधिकरण/विशेषणवत्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानां वरः)

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ससर्ज: created/sent forth
• ससर्ज: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sṛj (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सहसा: suddenly
• सहसा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय/तृतीया-रूप)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘suddenly/with force’

• रुद्रम्: Rudra
• रुद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दक्षयज्ञजिघांसया: with the intent to destroy Dakṣa’s sacrifice
• दक्षयज्ञजिघांसया: Hetu/Kāraṇa (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + yajña (प्रातिपदिक) + ji-ghāṃsā (प्रातिपदिक; desiderative noun from han धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (दक्षस्य यज्ञः; तस्य जिघांसया = ‘with the desire to kill/destroy’) हेतौ तृतीया

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (Vyāsa/Sūta-style narration within the Kurma Purana’s Dakṣa-yajña episode)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devī
• Rudra
• Dakṣa
• Yajña

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as an active, sovereign principle (prabhu) who, while transcendent, can manifest a divine force (Rudra) to restore dharma—showing the Atman/Iśvara as both beyond and capable of purposeful action.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No direct practice is taught in this verse; instead it supplies the theological ground for Kurma Purana’s later disciplines—yoga and dharma are meaningful because the Lord upholds cosmic order and responds to adharma.

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

It frames Rudra as a divinely manifested power serving cosmic order, supporting the Kurma Purana’s synthetic outlook where Śiva-Rudra functions in harmony with the supreme lordship that Vaishnavas identify with Viṣṇu.