Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 96

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

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

इन्द्रद्युम्न उवाच के ते वर्णाश्रमाचारा यैः समाराध्यते परः / ज्ञानं च कीदृशं दिव्यं भावनात्रयसंस्थितम्

Transliteration

indradyumna uvāca ke te varṇāśramācārā yaiḥ samārādhyate paraḥ / jñānaṃ ca kīdṛśaṃ divyaṃ bhāvanātrayasaṃsthitam

Translation

ഇന്ദ്രദ്യുമ്നൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഏതു വർണാശ്രമാചാരങ്ങളാൽ പരമേശ്വരനെ യഥാവിധി ആരാധിക്കുന്നു? കൂടാതെ ത്രിവിധ ഭാവനയിൽ സ്ഥാപിതമായ ആ ദിവ്യജ്ഞാനം എങ്ങനെയുള്ളതാണ്?

Word by Word

• indradyumnaḥ: Indradyumna
• indradyumnaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indradyumna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच्)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect), Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• ke: what/which
• ke: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (किम्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• te: those/your
• te: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• varṇāśramācārāḥ: conduct of castes and stages of life
• varṇāśramācārāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṇāśramācāra (वर्णाश्रमाचार)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• yaiḥ: by which
• yaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• samārādhyate: is worshipped/propitiated
• samārādhyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rādh (राध्) + sam (सम्) + ā (आ)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Karmaņi (Passive), Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• paraḥ: The Supreme
• paraḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म) [in passive syntax acts as Subject]
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (पर)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (ज्ञान)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• kīdṛśam: of what kind/nature
• kīdṛśam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kīdṛśa (कीदृश)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• divyam: divine
• divyam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (दिव्य)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• bhāvanātrayasaṃsthitam: established in the three types of mental conceptions (bhavanas)
• bhāvanātrayasaṃsthitam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāvanātrayasaṃsthita (भावनात्रयसंस्थित)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Indradyumna

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Indradyumna
• Para (Supreme/Ishvara)
• Varṇāśrama-dharma
• Bhāvanā-traya (threefold contemplation)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames the Supreme (Para/Iśvara) as the ultimate object of worship attainable through disciplined living (varṇāśrama-ācāra) and through divine knowledge (jñāna), implying that realization is both ethical-practical and contemplative.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to bhāvanā-traya—threefold contemplative cultivation—suggesting a structured yogic orientation where worship (upāsanā), knowledge (jñāna), and sustained inner contemplation (bhāvanā) converge in the Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-leaning soteriology.

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

By using the inclusive term “Para” (the Supreme) and linking worship with yogic-knowledge discipline, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the one Supreme is approached through shared dharma and contemplative practice, harmonizing Shaiva and Vaishnava paths.