Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Ikṣvāku-vaṃśa (Genealogy) culminating in Rāma; Setu-liṅga Māhātmya; Continuation through Kuśa and Lava

Devanagari script

वसिष्ठस्तु महातेजाः क्षेत्रे कल्माषपादके / अश्मकं जनयामसा तमिक्ष्वाकुकुलध्वजम्

Transliteration

vasiṣṭhastu mahātejāḥ kṣetre kalmāṣapādake / aśmakaṃ janayāmasā tamikṣvākukuladhvajam

Translation

അപ്പോൾ മഹാതേജസ്വിയായ വസിഷ്ഠൻ കല്മാഷപാദന്റെ ക്ഷേത്രത്തിൽ (പത്നിയിൽ) അശ്മകനെ ജനിപ്പിച്ചു—അവൻ ഇക്ഷ്വാകു കുലത്തിന്റെ ധ്വജമായി (ഗൗരവമായി) തിളങ്ങി.

Word by Word

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• तु: indeed
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), विशेषार्थ/विरोधार्थ

• महातेजाः: of great splendor
• महातेजाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (महत् तेजः यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वसिष्ठः)

• क्षेत्रे: in the field
• क्षेत्रे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• कल्माषपादके: (in the field) of Kalmāṣapādaka
• कल्माषपादके: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्माषपादक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणवत् अधिकरणे (locative qualifier)

• अश्मकम्: Aśmaka
• अश्मकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• जनयामास: begot, caused to be born
• जनयामास: क्रिया (Kriyā/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative) अर्थः ‘जनयति स्म’ (caused to be born/begot)

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; अश्मकम् इति कर्मणः पुनरुक्त-सूचक

• इक्ष्वाकुकुलध्वजम्: the banner/ornament of the Ikṣvāku lineage
• इक्ष्वाकुकुलध्वजम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इक्ष्वाकु + कुल + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (इक्ष्वाकुकुलस्य ध्वजः = banner/ornament of Ikṣvāku lineage), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणवत् (tam/aśmakam)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting Purāṇic genealogy to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Kalmāṣapāda
• Aśmaka
• Ikṣvāku

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily genealogical rather than metaphysical; it situates dharma through lineage and rightful succession, a Purāṇic framework within which later teachings on Ātman and Īśvara (notably in the Upari-bhāga’s Īśvara-gītā) are traditionally received.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yoga practice is taught in this line; instead, it preserves the dharma-history (vaṃśānucarita) that the Kurma Purāṇa uses as a foundation for its later integrative Shaiva-Vaishnava spiritual instruction, including Pāśupata-oriented discipline and devotion.

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

The verse itself does not directly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic method where sacred history and lineage uphold dharma, within which the Kurma Purāṇa later harmonizes Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava theology in its wider narrative and teachings.