Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45

Measure of the Three Worlds, Planetary Spheres, and Sūrya as the Root of Trailokya

Devanagari script

सर्वे नमस्यन्ति सहस्त्रभानुं गन्धर्वदेवोरगकिन्वन्नराद्याः / यजन्ति यज्ञैर्विविधैर्द्विजेन्द्रा- श्छन्दोमयं ब्रह्ममयं पुराणम्

Transliteration

sarve namasyanti sahastrabhānuṃ gandharvadevoragakinvannarādyāḥ / yajanti yajñairvividhairdvijendrā- śchandomayaṃ brahmamayaṃ purāṇam

Translation

ಗಂಧರ್ವರು, ದೇವರು, ಉರಗರು (ನಾಗರು), ಕಿನ್ನರರು ಮತ್ತು ಮಾನವರಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠರು—ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಸಹಸ್ರಕಿರಣ ಸೂರ್ಯನಿಗೆ ನಮಸ್ಕರಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ದ್ವಿಜಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠರು ನಾನಾವಿಧ ಯಜ್ಞಗಳಿಂದ ಛಂದೋಮಯವೂ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಮಯವೂ ಆದ ಆ ಪುರಾಣವನ್ನು ಆರಾಧಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ.

Word by Word

• sarve: all (people)
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Prathamā-vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacana (plural)

• namasyanti: they bow to / pay homage
• namasyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: namas √as (धातु: अस्; नामस्यति-प्रयोगः)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Bahuvacana (plural); parasmaipada

• sahasrabhānum: the thousand-rayed one (Sun)
• sahasrabhānum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra + bhānu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (singular)

• gandharva-deva-uraga-kiṃnara-ādyāḥ: Gandharvas, gods, serpents, Kiṃnaras and others
• gandharva-deva-uraga-kiṃnara-ādyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandharva + deva + uraga + kiṃnara + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Prathamā-vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacana (plural); ādyāḥ = ‘and others’ (ādi-śabda)

• yajanti: they worship / sacrifice
• yajanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yaj (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Bahuvacana (plural); parasmaipada

• yajñaiḥ: with sacrifices
• yajñaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Tṛtīyā-vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana (plural)

• vividhaiḥ: various
• vividhaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Tṛtīyā-vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana (plural); agrees with yajñaiḥ

• dvijendrāḥ: chief Brahmins
• dvijendrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Prathamā-vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacana (plural)

• chandomayam: consisting of Vedic metres/Chandas
• chandomayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: chandas + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (neuter), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (singular); agrees with purāṇam

• brahmamayam: consisting of Brahman / sacred knowledge
• brahmamayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahman + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (neuter), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (singular); agrees with purāṇam

• purāṇam: the Purāṇa
• purāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (neuter), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (singular)

Speaker

Narratorial voice (Purāṇic narrator speaking within the Kurma Purana’s discourse to sages)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Sahasrabhanu (Surya)
• Gandharvas
• Devas
• Nagas (Uragas)
• Kinnaras
• Dvijendras
• Brahman
• Purana

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the Purāṇa “brahmamaya” (of the nature of Brahman), the verse presents sacred revelation as pointing to the one supreme reality; the highest truth is Brahman, known through Veda and Purāṇa, beyond sectarian division.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse emphasizes yajña (sacrificial worship) as a disciplined spiritual practice of the dvijas; in the Kurma Purana’s broader framework, such ritual order supports inner purification that later culminates in Yoga and knowledge.

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

Indirectly, it grounds devotion and doctrine in Brahman and the Veda-Purāṇa unity; the Kurma Purana’s synthesis treats Shaiva and Vaishnava worship as converging on the same Brahman-centered truth rather than competing absolutes.