Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 75

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

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

ततः सब्रह्मका देवाः परिम्लानमुखश्रियः / गत्वा विज्ञापयामासुर्विष्णवे हरिमन्दिरम्

Transliteration

tataḥ sabrahmakā devāḥ parimlānamukhaśriyaḥ / gatvā vijñāpayāmāsurviṣṇave harimandiram

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ബ്രഹ്മാവിനോടുകൂടിയ ദേവന്മാർ, മുഖശോഭ മങ്ങിയവരായി, ഹരിയുടെ മന്ദിരത്തിലേക്ക് ചെന്നു വിഷ്ണുവിനോട് വിനയപൂർവ്വം അപേക്ഷ സമർപ്പിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb): ‘then/thereupon’

• sa: together with
• sa: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sa (सह-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (preverb/particle) used as first member meaning ‘together with’

• brahmakāḥ: including Brahmā
• brahmakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + ka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: sa-brahmaka = ‘including Brahmā’ (with Brahmā)

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• parimlāna: withered
• parimlāna: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-√mlā (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle) ‘withered/faded’; बहुव्रीहौ पूर्वपद (as first member)

• mukha: face
• mukha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, बहुव्रीहौ मध्यपद (as member)

• śriyaḥ: with faded facial splendor
• śriyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: parimlāna-mukha-śrī = ‘whose facial splendor had faded’

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘having gone’

• vijñāpayāmāsuḥ: informed, reported
• vijñāpayāmāsuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√jñap (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; causative stem (णिच्): ‘informed/announced’

• viṣṇave: to Viṣṇu
• viṣṇave: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• hari: of Hari / Hari-
• hari: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषे पूर्वपद (as first member in compound)

• mandiram: Hari’s abode (temple)
• mandiram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mandira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: hari-mandira = ‘Hari’s temple/abode’

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator, traditionally Sūta/Vyāsa line) describing the Devas’ action

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Devas
• Vishnu
• Hari
• Hari-mandira

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it presents Viṣṇu (Hari) as the final refuge when worldly splendor fades—hinting that the Supreme is the stable ground beyond changing fortune (śrī) and dejection.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No technique is specified; the verse highlights śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) and humble supplication—an inner discipline aligned with bhakti-yoga and the Purāṇic pathway to divine grace.

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

While Śiva is not named here, the Kurma Purāṇa’s broader synthesis frames such petitions to Viṣṇu as compatible with Śaiva-Pāśupata spirituality—different divine forms functioning as gateways to the one Supreme Lordship.