Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Genealogies of Yadus and Vṛṣṇis; Navaratha’s Refuge to Sarasvatī; Rise of Sāttvata Tradition; Prelude to Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma Incarnation

Devanagari script

कदाचिन्मृगयां यातो दृष्ट्वा राक्षसमूर्जितम् / दुद्राव महातविष्टो भयेन मुनिपुङ्गवाः

Transliteration

kadācinmṛgayāṃ yāto dṛṣṭvā rākṣasamūrjitam / dudrāva mahātaviṣṭo bhayena munipuṅgavāḥ

Translation

ഒരിക്കൽ വേട്ടയ്ക്കുപോയ ആ മുനിപുംഗവൻ, മഹാശക്തിയുള്ള ഒരു രാക്ഷസനെ കണ്ടപ്പോൾ, മഹാഭയത്തിൽ ആകുലനായി, ഭയത്താൽ തന്നെ വിശാല വനത്തിലേക്ക് ഓടിപ്പോയി.

Word by Word

• कदाचित्: once/sometime
• कदाचित्: कालाधिकरण (Time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time)

• मृगयाम्: hunt
• मृगयाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• यातः: having gone
• यातः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject, implied)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle/कृत्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गत्यर्थे—‘gone’

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• राक्षसम्: a demon
• राक्षसम्: कर्म (Object of ‘seen’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ऊर्जितम्: powerful/strong
• ऊर्जितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्जित (प्रातिपदिक; ऊर्ज्/ऊर्जा-सम्बद्ध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying राक्षसम्)

• दुद्राव: ran away
• दुद्राव: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महातविष्टः: greatly agitated/terrified
• महातविष्टः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-तविष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; महा + तविष्ट)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying subject)

• भयेन: out of fear/with fear
• भयेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन

• मुनिपुङ्गवः: the foremost of sages
• मुनिपुङ्गवः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि-पुङ्गव (प्रातिपदिक; मुनि + पुङ्गव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपाधि/विशेष्य (title)

Speaker

Narrator (Purana storyteller, traditionally Sūta/authorial narration within the Kurma Purana)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Rakshasa
• Muni (foremost sage)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily narrative, showing fear arising from confronting a powerful being; it indirectly sets up the Purāṇic teaching that refuge in the Supreme (Īśvara) steadies the mind when worldly terror arises.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yogic technique is taught in this line; the scene functions as a narrative trigger that typically leads to seeking protection, mantra, or devotion—common Kurma Purana pathways aligned with Pāśupata-oriented discipline and īśvara-śaraṇāgati (taking refuge in God).

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

This specific verse does not mention Śiva or Viṣṇu directly; in the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis, such fear-and-refuge narratives commonly culminate in turning to Īśvara, where Śaiva-Vaiṣṇava unity is affirmed at the theological level.