Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Mādhayameśvara-māhātmya — Vyāsa at Mandākinī and the Pāśupata Vision

Devanagari script

ततः पाशुपताः सर्वे हृष्टसर्वतनूरुहाः / नेमुरव्यग्रमनसः प्रोचुः सत्यवतीसुतम्

Transliteration

tataḥ pāśupatāḥ sarve hṛṣṭasarvatanūruhāḥ / nemuravyagramanasaḥ procuḥ satyavatīsutam

Translation

അപ്പോൾ എല്ലാ പാശുപത ഭക്തരും—ആനന്ദത്തിൽ ശരീരമൊട്ടാകെ രോമാഞ്ചിതരായി—അവ്യഗ്രമനസ്സോടെ നമസ്കരിച്ചു സത്യവതീസുതനായ (വ്യാസനെ) അഭിസംബോധന ചെയ്തു പറഞ്ഞു।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla/Deśa-adhikaraṇa (काल/देश-अधिकरण—context)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverb: 'then/from that')

• pāśupatāḥ: the Pāśupatas (followers of Paśupati)
• pāśupatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśupata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of pāśupatāḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (पाशुपताः)

• hṛṣṭa-sarva-tanū-ruhāḥ: whose body-hairs all stood thrilled (with joy)
• hṛṣṭa-sarva-tanū-ruhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of pāśupatāḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛṣṭa (कृदन्त) + sarva + tanū + ruha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समास (हृष्टाः सर्वे तनूरुहाः येषां ते)

• nemuḥ: they bowed
• nemuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• avyagra-manasaḥ: with undistracted minds
• avyagra-manasaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of pāśupatāḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + vyagra + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (अव्यग्रम् मनः येषां ते)

• procuḥ: they said, they spoke forth
• procuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• satyavatī-sutam: the son of Satyavatī (Vyāsa)
• satyavatī-sutam: Karma (कर्म/Object—addressed person)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satyavatī + suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सत्यवत्याः सुतः)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration describing the Pāśupatas’ actions before they speak to Vyāsa)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Pāśupatas
• Paśupati (Śiva)
• Satyavatī’s son (Vyāsa)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it highlights the disciplined, undistracted mind (avyagra-manasaḥ) and devotional absorption—inner steadiness that Purāṇic yoga treats as supportive for realizing the Self beyond agitation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to ekāgratā/mental one-pointedness (avyagra-manasaḥ) and reverential surrender to an authoritative teacher (Vyāsa), a common Purāṇic framing for receiving yoga instruction such as Pāśupata-oriented devotion and contemplation.

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

By foregrounding Pāśupata (Śaiva) devotees approaching Vyāsa within the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis, it reflects a non-sectarian Purāṇic model where Śaiva devotion and Vaiṣṇava transmission coexist within one sacred narrative lineage.