Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

येन भागीरथी गङ्गा तपः कृत्वावतारिता / प्रसादाद् देवदेवस्य महादेवस्य धीमतः

Transliteration

yena bhāgīrathī gaṅgā tapaḥ kṛtvāvatāritā / prasādād devadevasya mahādevasya dhīmataḥ

Translation

ആരുടെ പ്രസാദത്താൽ തപസ്സു ചെയ്ത് ഭാഗീരഥീ ഗംഗ ലോകത്തിലേക്ക് അവതരിച്ചുവോ—അത് ദേവദേവനായ ധീമാന മഹാദേവന്റെ അനുഗ്രഹം തന്നേ.

Word by Word

• येन: by which/through whom
• येन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन (Singular)

• भागीरथी: Bhāgīrathī (the Ganges)
• भागीरथी: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भागीरथी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• गङ्गा: Ganges
• गङ्गा: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त्वा (अव्यय-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• अवतारिता: was brought down (made to descend)
• अवतारिता: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-तॄ (धातु) + णिच् (causative) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्मणि/भावे क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘अवतारिताभवत्’ (was caused to descend)

• प्रसादात्: from (his) grace
• प्रसादात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• देवदेवस्य: of the God of gods
• देवदेवस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: ‘देवानां देवः’), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• महादेवस्य: of Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (महान् देवः), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धीमतः: of the wise
• धीमतः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (adjective) महादेवस्य

Speaker

Purana narrator (Vyasa/Suta tradition), praising Mahadeva within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Bhagirathi Ganga
• Mahadeva
• Shiva
• Devadeva

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that transformative descent (avatāraṇa) happens through tapas allied with divine prasāda—pointing to the Purāṇic view that the Supreme is approached through disciplined practice and grace, not mere effort alone.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Tapas (austerity/inner heat) is the key discipline: sustained self-restraint, vow-based practice, and concentrated intention—typical preparatory limbs aligned with Pāśupata-leaning Śaiva sādhanā themes in the Kurma Purana.

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

By presenting Mahādeva as the decisive source of prasāda enabling a cosmic event, the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology where sectarian functions harmonize—Śiva’s grace and Viṣṇu’s broader Purāṇic framework are not opposed but mutually affirming.