Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 149

Dakṣa’s Progeny, Nṛsiṃha–Varāha Avatāras, and Andhaka’s Defeat

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा सिंहासनासीनं देव्या नारायणेन च / प्रणम्य देवमीशानं पृष्टवत्यो वराङ्गनाः

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā siṃhāsanāsīnaṃ devyā nārāyaṇena ca / praṇamya devamīśānaṃ pṛṣṭavatyo varāṅganāḥ

Translation

ദേവിയോടും നാരായണനോടും കൂടെ സിംഹാസനത്തിൽ ആസീനനായ ഈശാനദേവനെ കണ്ട ആ ശ്രേഷ്ഠസ്ത്രീകൾ പ്രണാമം ചെയ്ത് പിന്നെ അവനോട് ചോദ്യങ്ങൾ ഉന്നയിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); having seen

• सिंहासन-आसीनम्: seated on a lion-throne
• सिंहासन-आसीनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिंहासन (प्रातिपदिक) + आसीन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifies देवम्/ईशानम्); तत्पुरुषः—सिंहासने आसीनः

• देव्या: with the Goddess
• देव्या: Sahakāraka (सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचनम्; सहार्थे (with)

• नारायणेन: with Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणेन: Sahakāraka (सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचनम्; सहार्थे (with)

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

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√नम् (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); having bowed

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनम्; object of प्रणम्य

• ईशानम्: Īśāna (the Lord)
• ईशानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनम्; apposition to देवम्

• पृष्टवत्यः: (they) asked
• पृष्टवत्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√छ् (धातु) + क्तवतु (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past active participle); स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; 'having asked' (feminine plural)

• वर-अङ्गनाः: the excellent women
• वर-अङ्गनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (वराः अङ्गनाः)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration describing the women approaching Īśāna/Śiva)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Īśāna (Śiva)
• Devī
• Nārāyaṇa (Viṣṇu)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying Īśāna enthroned in the presence of Devī and Nārāyaṇa, the verse signals a single supreme sovereignty expressed through multiple divine forms—hinting at an underlying unity behind sectarian names.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds the preparatory discipline of devotion—darśana (reverent seeing) and praṇāma (humble surrender)—as the proper inner posture before receiving instruction, a common Purāṇic gateway to yogic and dharmic teaching.

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

It places Nārāyaṇa alongside Devī in the presence of Īśāna, presenting a harmonized Shaiva–Vaishnava vision where honoring one does not negate the other, but supports a unified theology.