Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 139

Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion

Devanagari script

नमस्कृत्वा हरिं विष्णुं जगद्योनिं सनातनम् / अध्येतव्यमिदं शास्त्रं कृष्णद्वैपायनं तथा

Transliteration

namaskṛtvā hariṃ viṣṇuṃ jagadyoniṃ sanātanam / adhyetavyamidaṃ śāstraṃ kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaṃ tathā

Translation

സനാതനമായ ജഗദ്യോനി ഹരി-വിഷ്ണുവിനെ നമസ്കരിച്ചു, തുടർന്ന് ഈ ശാസ്ത്രം അധ്യയനം ചെയ്യണം—ഇത് കൃഷ്ണദ്വൈപായനൻ (വ്യാസൻ) പ്രസാദിച്ചതുമാണ്.

Word by Word

• नमस्कृत्वा: having saluted
• नमस्कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस्-√कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); ‘having made salutation’

• हरिम्: Hari
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; apposition to हरिम्

• जगद्-योनिम्: source of the world
• जगद्-योनिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘jagatāṃ yoniḥ’)

• सनातनम्: eternal
• सनातनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; qualifies हरि/विष्णु

• अध्येतव्यम्: should be studied
• अध्येतव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-√इ (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/future passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; ‘to be studied/should be studied’

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Determiner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here with शास्त्रम (nominative)

• शास्त्रम्: treatise/scripture
• शास्त्रम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• कृष्ण-द्वैपायनम्: Krishna Dvaipayana (Vyasa)
• कृष्ण-द्वैपायनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वैपायन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (proper name)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (also/likewise)

Speaker

Sūta (traditional narrator) / Purāṇic redactorial voice introducing study with maṅgala (invocation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu
• Jagadyoni (cosmic source)
• Krishna Dvaipayana (Vyasa)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling Hari-Vishnu “jagadyoni” and “sanātana,” the verse points to the Supreme as the eternal ground and origin of the cosmos—an all-pervading reality worthy of reverent approach before study.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes a foundational sādhana: namaskāra (reverential surrender) before engaging with śāstra. In the Kurma Purana’s discipline-oriented tone, this functions as the inner preparation that supports later teachings on dharma and yoga, including Pāśupata-oriented practice.

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

Although this verse names Vishnu explicitly, its Purāṇic framing (invocation + śāstra-study) aligns with the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis: honoring the Supreme through a chosen form while proceeding into teachings that elsewhere integrate Shaiva and Vaishnava perspectives.