Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 90

Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

अनोयन्यमनुरक्तास्ते ह्यन्योन्यमुपजीविनः / अन्योन्यं प्रणताश्चैव लीलया परमेश्वराः

Transliteration

anoyanyamanuraktāste hyanyonyamupajīvinaḥ / anyonyaṃ praṇatāścaiva līlayā parameśvarāḥ

Translation

彼らは互いに深く帰依し、また互いに支え合う。しかも至上の主でありながら、ただ神聖なる戯れ（リーラー）として、互いに礼拝して頭を垂れる。

Word by Word

• अन्योन्यम्: each other (mutually)
• अन्योन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः अन्य+अन्य (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व)

• अनुरक्ताः: attached, devoted
• अनुरक्ताः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-रञ्ज् (धातु) → अनुरक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• अन्योन्यम्: each other
• अन्योन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व

• उपजीविनः: living by/depending on
• उपजीविनः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-जीव् (धातु) → उपजीविन् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (णिनि/इन्-प्रत्यय), विशेषण

• अन्योन्यम्: each other
• अन्योन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व

• प्रणताः: bowed down, submissive
• प्रणताः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु) → प्रणत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• लीलया: by play, sportively
• लीलया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• परमेश्वराः: the supreme lords
• परमेश्वराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (परमस्य ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) recounting the Purana’s teaching on divine reciprocity (Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying “Supreme Lords” bowing to one another in līlā, the verse points to a non-competitive, non-dual vision where supreme divinity is expressed through harmony rather than rivalry—suggesting the One Self can appear as many without inner contradiction.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes bhakti as a yogic disposition—mutual reverence, humility, and recognition of the Divine in all forms—supporting the Kurma Purana’s broader yoga-ethic where devotion and ego-transcendence prepare the mind for steadiness (dhyāna) and insight.

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

It frames the highest divine relationship as mutual devotion and mutual honoring—an explicit Shaiva–Vaishnava reconciliation—where apparent hierarchy is dissolved into līlā and shared supreme status.