Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 93

Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion

Devanagari script

ततश्च शापः कथितो देवदारुवनौकसाम् / निग्रहश्चान्धकस्याथ गाणपत्यमनुत्तमम्

Transliteration

tataśca śāpaḥ kathito devadāruvanaukasām / nigrahaścāndhakasyātha gāṇapatyamanuttamam

Translation

ついで、デーヴァダールの森に住む聖仙たちが下した呪詛が語られ、さらにアンダカの征服と、主ガṇパティに関する無上の教えが説かれる。

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), temporal adverb (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• शापः: curse
• शापः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• कथितः: was told/was narrated
• कथितः: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kath (कथ् धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with ‘शापः’

• देवदारुवनौकसाम्: of the dwellers of the Devadāru forest
• देवदारुवनौकसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devadāru-vana-okas (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); ‘वनौकस्’ = forest-dwellers; समासः: देवदारु-वन (Tatpurusha) + औकस् (dweller)

• निग्रहः: subjugation/restraint
• निग्रहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• अन्धकस्य: of Andhaka
• अन्धकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: andhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• अथ: then/next
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, discourse particle (अनन्तर/प्रस्तावक)

• गाणपत्यम्: (the account of) Gaṇapati/relating to Gaṇapati
• गाणपत्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāṇapatya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; here as topic/item narrated

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed, excellent
• अनुत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘गाणपत्यम्’

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (Sūta-style narration within the Kurma Purana’s discourse frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devadāru-vana sages
• Andhaka
• Gaṇapati

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by linking the narrative of curse, restraint of egoic forces (Andhaka), and devotion to Gaṇapati, it frames liberation as arising from disciplining adharmic impulses and aligning with the supreme Lord’s order (īśvara-niyama), a common Purāṇic gateway to realizing the Self beyond delusion.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse is a transitional summary, but it points to a Pāśupata-style emphasis on nigraha (restraint/subjugation)—the yogic control of passion, pride, and violence—supported by devotion (bhakti) and ritual-doctrinal orientation toward Gaṇapati and Śaiva authority.

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

By presenting Śaiva episodes (Devadāru forest, Andhaka’s subjugation, Gaṇapati doctrine) within the Kurma Purana’s broader Vaishnava frame, it reflects the text’s integrative stance: sectarian forms differ, but divine governance and dharma ultimately converge in a unified Supreme reality.