Shloka 21

Incarnations of Mahādeva in Kali-yuga (Vaivasvata Manvantara) and the Nakulīśa Horizon

Devanagari script

उतथ्यो वामदेवश्च महाकायो महानिलः / वाचश्रवाः सुपीकश्च श्यावाश्वः सपथीश्वरः

Transliteration

utathyo vāmadevaśca mahākāyo mahānilaḥ / vācaśravāḥ supīkaśca śyāvāśvaḥ sapathīśvaraḥ

Translation

ഉതഥ്യനും വാമദേവനും; മഹാകായനും മഹാനിലനും; വാചശ്രവായും സുപീകനും; ശ്യാവാശ്വനും സപഥീശ്വരനും—ഈ പൂജ്യ മഹർഷിമാരും എണ്ണപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• उतथ्यः: Utathya (a sage)
• उतथ्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उतथ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• वामदेवः: Vāmadeva (a sage)
• वामदेवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (वामः देवः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महाकायः: Mahākāya (great-bodied one)
• महाकायः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाकाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (महान् कायः)

• महानिलः: Mahānila (great wind; name)
• महानिलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महानिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (महान् अनिलः)

• वाचश्रवाः: Vācaśravā (renowned for speech; name)
• वाचश्रवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाचश्रवस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वाचः श्रवः/श्रवाः)

• सुपीकः: Supīka (name)
• सुपीकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुपीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (सु + पीक)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• श्यावाश्वः: Śyāvāśva (dark-horsed; name)
• श्यावाश्वः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्यावाश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (श्यावः अश्वः)

• सपथीश्वरः: Sapathīśvara (lord of the path; name)
• सपथीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सपथि + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (सपथि/सपथस्य ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Sūta (traditional Purāṇic narrator) recounting a catalogue of sages within the Kurma Purana’s Purva-bhaga context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Utathya
• Vāmadeva
• Mahākāya
• Mahānila
• Vācaśravā
• Supīka
• Śyāvāśva
• Sapathīśvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily a catalogue of revered ṛṣis; it does not directly define Ātman, but it supports the Purāṇic method of grounding spiritual teaching in authoritative seer-lineages who transmit knowledge of the Self and dharma.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yoga technique is taught in this line; it functions as a name-list. In the Kurma Purana’s wider teaching, such ṛṣi catalogues authenticate later instructions on dharma, devotion, and (in the Upari-bhaga) Pāśupata-oriented yoga and contemplation.

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

Indirectly: by placing the teaching within a shared ṛṣi tradition revered across Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava streams, the Kurma Purana frames its synthesis through common Vedic-Purāṇic authorities rather than sectarian separation.