Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

तुष्टाव वाग्भिरिष्टाभिर्बद्धाञ्जलिरमित्रजित् / पपात दण्डवद् भूमौ त्वामहं शरणं गतः

Transliteration

tuṣṭāva vāgbhiriṣṭābhirbaddhāñjaliramitrajit / papāta daṇḍavad bhūmau tvāmahaṃ śaraṇaṃ gataḥ

Translation

അമിത്രജിത് കൈകൂപ്പി പ്രിയവചനങ്ങളാൽ പ്രഭുവിനെ സ്തുതിച്ചു; പിന്നെ ദണ്ഡവത് ഭൂമിയിൽ വീണു—“ഞാൻ നിന്റെ ശരണം പ്രാപിച്ചു” എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• तुष्टाव: praised
• तुष्टाव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• वाक्भिः: with words/speeches
• वाक्भिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• इष्टाभिः: with desired/pleasing
• इष्टाभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट (कृदन्त; √इष्/इच्छ्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) of वाक्भिः

• बद्ध: having bound/with (hands) joined
• बद्ध: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बद्ध (कृदन्त; √बन्ध्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• अञ्जलिः: folded hands (añjali)
• अञ्जलिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; बद्ध- इति विशेषणेन सह

• अमित्रजित्: the enemy-conqueror (epithet)
• अमित्रजित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमित्र-जित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (amitra + jit = 'conqueror of enemies')

• पपात: fell down
• पपात: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दण्डवत्: like a staff; prostrate
• दण्डवत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दण्डवत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/रीति-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; उत्तमपुरुष-प्रत्ययार्थ (2nd person pronoun)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; प्रथमपुरुष-प्रत्ययार्थ (1st person pronoun)

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; गत्यर्थे कर्मवत्

• गतः: having gone/come (to refuge)
• गतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गत (कृदन्त; √गम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past active participle), कर्तरि प्रयोग

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing Amitrajit’s act of surrender

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Amitrajit
• Supreme Lord (Hari/Kūrma as refuge)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting the Lord as “refuge” (śaraṇa), the verse points to the Supreme as the ultimate ground of safety and liberation—one to whom the finite self turns when it recognizes its dependence and seeks the highest support.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights devotional discipline (bhakti-yoga) expressed through añjali (joined palms), stuti (praise), and daṇḍavat-praṇāma (full prostration)—outer acts that cultivate inner humility, surrender, and one-pointed reliance on Īśvara.

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

While this line directly shows surrender to the Supreme Lord, the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis frames such refuge as directed to the one Īśvara revered through multiple divine forms—supporting a non-sectarian, unity-centered reading.