Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

चतुर्थं शिवधर्माख्यं साक्षान्नन्दीशभाषितम् / दुर्वाससोक्तमाश्चर्यं नारदोक्तमतः परम्

Transliteration

caturthaṃ śivadharmākhyaṃ sākṣānnandīśabhāṣitam / durvāsasoktamāścaryaṃ nāradoktamataḥ param

Translation

ផ្នែកទីបួន មាននាមថា «សិវធម៌» ដែលនន្ទីឝៈ ពោលដោយផ្ទាល់។ បន្ទាប់មក មកដល់បង្រៀនអស្ចារ្យ ដែលទុರ್ವាសៈ ប្រកាស; ហើយបន្ទាប់ពីនោះ គឺសេចក្តីណែនាំដែលនារទៈ ពោល។

Word by Word

• caturtham: Fourth
• caturtham: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ordinal, Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• śivadharmākhyam: Named Shivadharma
• śivadharmākhyam: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śivadharmākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sākṣāt: Directly / In person
• sākṣāt: Kriya-visheshana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sākṣāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• nandīśabhāṣitam: Spoken by Nandisha
• nandīśabhāṣitam: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nandīśabhāṣita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• durvāsasoktam: Spoken by Durvasa
• durvāsasoktam: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durvāsasokta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• āścaryam: Wonderful / Surprise
• āścaryam: Visheshana
• Type: Noun
• Root: āścarya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• nāradoktam: Spoken by Narada
• nāradoktam: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nāradokta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ataḥ: After this
• ataḥ: Apadana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• param: Next
• param: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Suta (the narrator) describing the internal divisions/teachings of the Kurma Purana to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandisha (Nandi)
• Durvasa
• Narada

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly define Ātman; it maps the Purana’s teaching-streams, indicating that liberating knowledge and dharma are transmitted through authoritative speakers (Nandīśa, Durvāsas, Nārada) within the Kurma Purana’s integrated Shaiva-Vaishnava framework.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific practice is described in this line; it points to a ‘Śiva-dharma’ section and subsequent teachings, which in the Kurma tradition commonly include Pāśupata-oriented discipline, vows, purity, and contemplative devotion as part of the broader yogic-dharma curriculum.

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

By foregrounding ‘Śiva-dharma’ as a core section within the Kurma Purana (a Vaishnava Purana centered on Lord Kurma), the verse supports the text’s characteristic Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis: Śiva’s dharma is preserved and honored within a Vishnu-centered Purana.