Shloka 34

Manvantaras, Indras, Saptarṣis, and the Seven Sustaining Manifestations; Vyāsa as Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

त्रिभिः क्रमैरिमांल्लोकाञ्जित्वा येन महात्मना / पुरन्दराय त्रैलोक्यं दत्तं निहतकण्टकम्

Transliteration

tribhiḥ kramairimāṃllokāñjitvā yena mahātmanā / purandarāya trailokyaṃ dattaṃ nihatakaṇṭakam

Translation

ആ മഹാത്മാവ് മൂന്നു പാദചുവടുകളിൽ ഈ ലോകങ്ങളെ ജയിച്ച്, എല്ലാ കണ്ഠകങ്ങൾ—വൈരിയും വിഘ്നവും—നശിപ്പിച്ച്, ത്രിലോക്യം പുരന്ദരൻ (ഇന്ദ്രൻ)ക്ക് അർപ്പിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• त्रिभिः: by three
• त्रिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; numeral adjective qualifying 'kramaiḥ'

• क्रमैः: steps
• क्रमैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; means

• इमान्: these
• इमान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; demonstrative qualifying 'lokān'

• लोकान्: worlds
• लोकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• जित्वा: having conquered
• जित्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ji (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), 'having conquered'

• येन: by whom
• येन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; relative pronoun referring to Vāmana/Viṣṇu

• महात्मना: by the great-souled one
• महात्मना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-ātman (प्रातिपदिक: mahā + ātman)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; karmadhāraya 'great-souled'

• पुरन्दराय: to Purandara (Indra)
• पुरन्दराय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purandara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; recipient (Indra)

• त्रैलोक्यम्: the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri-loka (प्रातिपदिक: tri + loka)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; dvigu 'three worlds' as a collective

• दत्तम्: given
• दत्तम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; agreeing with 'trailokyam' (given)

• निहतकण्टकम्: made free of obstacles
• निहतकण्टकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nihata-kaṇṭaka (प्रातिपदिक: nihata + kaṇṭaka)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa 'with thorns removed' i.e., 'free of obstacles/enemies'; qualifying 'trailokyam'

Speaker

Primary narrator (Purana narrator, traditionally Suta/Vyasa lineage) describing Lord Vishnu as Vamana/Trivikrama

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vamana
• Trivikrama
• Vishnu (Hari)
• Purandara (Indra)
• Trailokya (three worlds)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying the Lord as the one who “measures” and overcomes all realms, the verse implies a sovereignty that transcends limited domains—an indicator of the Supreme who is not confined by the worlds but can encompass and order them.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is prescribed in this shloka; however, the image of “removing thorns (obstacles)” aligns with Yogic discipline where impurities and impediments are eliminated so that rightful order—inner and outer—can be restored.

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

While the verse is explicitly Vaishnava (Vamana giving Indra the worlds), the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis reads such acts as the single Supreme Lord’s governance—Hari and Hara understood as non-opposed powers restoring dharma.