Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 147

Dakṣa’s Progeny, Nṛsiṃha–Varāha Avatāras, and Andhaka’s Defeat

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा वरासनासीनं देव्या चन्द्रविभूषणम् / प्रणेमुरादराद् देव्यो गायन्ति स्मातिलालसाः

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā varāsanāsīnaṃ devyā candravibhūṣaṇam / praṇemurādarād devyo gāyanti smātilālasāḥ

Translation

優れた御座に坐し、月を飾りとして戴く女神を見て、天の女たちは敬虔に礼拝し、信愛に胸を焦がして讃歌を歌い始めた。

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having seen)

• वर-आसन-आसीनम्: seated on an excellent seat
• वर-आसन-आसीनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक) + आसीन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifies चन्द्रविभूषणम्/देवम् implied); समासः: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः—'वरं आसनं' (श्रेष्ठासनम्) + 'आसीन' (seated)

• देव्या: with the Goddess
• देव्या: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचनम्; सहार्थे (with) / accompanying agent

• चन्द्र-विभूषणम्: the one adorned with the moon
• चन्द्र-विभूषणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विभूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहि-भावार्थे प्रायः 'चन्द्रः विभूषणं यस्य' (but formally षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद); here used as epithet of ईश/शिव

• प्रणेमुः: they bowed down
• प्रणेमुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद) / लुङ्-प्रायः कथनम्; उत्तम-प्रयोगे अत्र: परोक्षभूत/अनद्यतनभूत; प्रथमपुरुष बहुवचनम्

• आदरात्: out of reverence
• आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी एकवचनम्; हेतौ/कारणे (ablative of cause)

• देव्यः: the goddesses
• देव्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; subject

• गायन्ति: they sing
• गायन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गै (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल) परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष बहुवचनम्

• स्म: indeed/then (narrative particle)
• स्म: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्म-प्रयोगः (past narrative particle/emphasis)

• अति-लालसाः: very eager
• अति-लालसाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + लालस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifies देव्यः); अव्ययीभावः (अत्यन्तं लालसाः)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the scene; traditionally Sūta conveying Vyāsa’s account)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devī
• Chandra
• Devyaḥ (divine ladies)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it frames the Goddess as a visible locus for reverence—suggesting that the transcendent is approached through sacred form (saguṇa-upāsanā), which can mature into insight into the inner Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes devotional concentration through darśana (sacred seeing), praṇāma (reverential bowing), and stuti (hymnic praise)—practices that steady the mind and support contemplative absorption in Purāṇic yoga-bhakti.

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

By foregrounding devotion to Devī with lunar ornamentation (a common Śaiva-Śākta marker), it reflects the Kurma Purana’s inclusive theology where sectarian symbols coexist within a broader non-hostile synthesis.