Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

Sapta-dvīpa Cosmography and the Vision of Śvetadvīpa–Vaikuṇṭha

Devanagari script

सर्वे विज्ञानसंपन्ना मैत्रादिगुणसंयुताः / यथोक्तकारिणः सर्वे सर्वे भूतहिते रताः

Transliteration

sarve vijñānasaṃpannā maitrādiguṇasaṃyutāḥ / yathoktakāriṇaḥ sarve sarve bhūtahite ratāḥ

Translation

അവർ എല്ലാവരും യഥാർത്ഥ വിവേക‑ജ്ഞാനസമ്പന്നർ, മൈത്രി മുതലായ ഗുണങ്ങളാൽ യുക്തർ; എല്ലാവരും വിധിച്ചതുപോലെ പ്രവർത്തിക്കുന്നവർ, സർവ്വഭൂതഹിതത്തിൽ നിരതർ ആയിരുന്നു।

Word by Word

• sarve: all (of them)
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacana (plural); sarvanāma (pronoun)

• vijñāna-saṃpannāḥ: endowed with knowledge
• vijñāna-saṃpannāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of sarve)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vijñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃpanna (कृदन्त; √pad/पद् with sam-; past participle used adjectivally)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa-samāsa (determinative): ‘vijñānena saṃpannāḥ’ (endowed with knowledge)

• maitrādi-guṇa-saṃyutāḥ: possessed of virtues like friendliness
• maitrādi-guṇa-saṃyutāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of sarve)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maitrā (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/indeclinable used as suffixal member) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyuta (कृदन्त; √yuj/युज् with sam-; past participle used adjectivally)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘maitrādayo guṇāḥ’ + ‘taiḥ saṃyutāḥ’ (possessed of qualities like friendliness)

• yathā-ukta-kāriṇaḥ: doers as instructed
• yathā-ukta-kāriṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of sarve)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + ukta (कृदन्त; √vac/वच्; past participle) + kārin (प्रातिपदिक; agent noun)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘yathā uktaṃ tathā karoti’ (one who acts as said)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; reiteration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; sarvanāma

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; reiteration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; sarvanāma

• bhūta-hite: in the welfare of beings
• bhūta-hite: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative setting)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + hita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त used as noun ‘welfare’)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/7th), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘bhūtānāṃ hitam’ (welfare of beings)

• ratāḥ: engaged, devoted
• ratāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective of sarve)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rata (कृदन्त; √ram/रम्; past participle used adjectivally)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; ‘rata’ = engaged/attached

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the character of the righteous persons/attendants in context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kurma Purana
• maitrī (friendliness)
• bhūta-hita (welfare of beings)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It points indirectly to Atman-realization by emphasizing vijñāna (discernment) expressed as universal goodwill and welfare of beings—ethical clarity as a hallmark of true knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights the yamas-like ethical base—maitrī and commitment to bhūta-hita—which the Kurma Purana treats as prerequisites for higher Yoga (including Pāśupata-oriented discipline and devotion).

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

Rather than sectarian contrast, it stresses shared dharmic markers—knowledge, obedience to śāstra, and compassion—virtues upheld across the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.